Clark Charles Smith, MD
Overview
Clark Smith, MD, MPH, FAAPMR is an Associate Professor of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. He specializes in treating patients with acute and chronic sports and spine injuries. Dr. Smith is board certified in both Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine. He completed his undergraduate education at Duke University, received his M.D. and Masters of Public Health (M.P.H.) from Tulane University, underwent residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Emory University where he also served as Chief Resident, and completed a multidisciplinary pain medicine fellowship at Northwestern University and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.
Dr. Smith has a special interest in pain and sports medicine. He uses a multidisciplinary non-operative approach to treating acute and chronic sports and spine problems. Depending on the scope and severity of the problem, treatment options may include individualized therapy programs, medications, or non-operative interventional procedures targeted at a particular injury or problem. Procedures that Dr. Smith performs include: ultrasound and fluoroscopically guided joint injections, Platelet Rich Plasma (PrP), spine injections, epidural steroid injections, radiofrequency ablation, and many others. The goals of Dr. Smith’s treatment are to help every patient achieve his or her highest level of performance and function.
Dr. Smith sees patients at CUMC's main campus at 180 Ft. Washington Ave, Suite 199, HP 182, and at CUMC's midtown campus at 51 W 51st st. between 5th and 6th ave., 3rd Floor. Call 212-305-3535 for an appointment.
Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated
- Arthritis
- Arthritis of Spine
- Back and Neck Pain
- Cervical Disc Herniation
- Cervical Neck Pain
- Cervical Spinal Stenosis
- Cervical Spine Disease
- Cortisone Injection
- Degenerative Cervical Spinal Stenosis
- Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
- Degenerative Spinal Disorder
- Degenerative Spine Disease
- Disorder of Intervertebral Disc
- Herniated Cervical Disc
- Herniated Disc
- Herniated Lumbar Intervertebral Disc
- Hip Pain
- Knee Pain
- Knee Problem
- Low Back and Neck Pain
- Low Back Pain
- Lower Back Pain
- Lumbar Disc Herniation
- Lumbar Herniated Disc
- Muscle Strain
- Musculoskeletal Pain
- Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
- Neck and Lumbar Spine Problems
- Neck Pain
- Neck Pain, Acute
- Nerve Blocks
- Nerve Pain Due to Spinal Stenosis
- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
- Radiculopathy
- Radiofrequency
- Radiofrequency Ablation
- Rehabilitation
- Rotator Cuff Tear
- Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
- Runner's Knee
- Sacroiliac Joint Pain
- Sciatica
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Pain
- Spinal Arthritis
- Spinal Disorder
- Spinal Injections
- Spinal Nerve Root Block
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spinal Stenosis of Lumbar Region
- Spine Rehabilitation
- Spondylosis
- Sports Injuries
- Sports Injury
- Sports Injury Rehabilitation
- Sports Medicine
- Sports Medicine Rehabilitation
- Sprains and Strains
- Tendonitis
- Trigger Point Injections
Academic Appointments
- John A. Downey Associate Professor of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine at the Columbia University Medical Center
Administrative Titles
- Director, Interventional Spine
- Medical Director, Outpatient Operations
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Medical Center
Languages
- Spanish
Gender
- Male
Schedule an Appointment
Virtual Visits/Telehealth
Virtual Visits allow you to connect with your provider from the comfort, convenience, and safety of your own home.
Phone Appointments
Connect Patient Portal
For existing patients, login to make an appointment, view documentation or contact your care provider.
Location(s)
Insurance Accepted
Aetna
- Aetna Signature Administrators
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- NYP Employee Plan
- NY Signature
- POS
- PPO
- Student Health
Affinity Health Plan
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
AgeWell
- Medicare Managed Care
- Special Needs
Amida Care
- Special Needs
Cigna
- EPO
- Great West (National)
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
Emblem/GHI
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Emblem/HIP
- ConnectiCare
- EPO
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
- Select Care (Exchange)
- Vytra
Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
Fidelis Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Healthfirst
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Leaf (Exchange)
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Local 1199
- Local 1199
MagnaCare (National)
- MagnaCare
Medicare
- Railroad
- Traditional Medicare
Multiplan
- Multiplan
MVP Health Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
Quality Health Management
- Quality Health Management
RiverSpring
- Special Needs
UnitedHealthcare
- Compass (Exchange)
- Empire Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid (Community Plan)
- Medicare Managed Care
- Oxford Freedom
- Oxford HMO
- Oxford Liberty
- POS
- PPO
WellCare
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
World Trade Center Health Plan
- World Trade Center Health Plan
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- Tulane University / School of Medicine
- MD, MPH, 2006 Tulane University School of Medicine
- Internship: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- Residency: Emory University Affiliated Hosptials
- Fellowship: Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Committees, Societies, Councils
Spine Intervention Society
- Chair, Patient Safety Committee
- Member, Standards Division
North American Spine Society
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabiliation
Board Certifications
- Pain Medicine
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Honors & Awards
Super Doctors New York Rising Stars 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013
John P. Downey Endowed Associate Professor 2019
Academy of Clinical Excellence 2019
Research
Selected Publications
Patel J, Schneider BJ, Smith CC. Intra articular corticosteroid injections and hyperglycemia. Pain Medicine 2018; 19:1091-1092. Doi: 10.1093/pm/pnx303
Popescu A, Patel J, McCormick ZL, Maus TP, Rodes M, Walega DR, Smith CC, Patient Safety Committee of the Spine Intervention Society; Fact Finders for Patient Safety: Are Gadolinium-Based Contrast Media Safe Alternatives to Iodinated Contrast Agents for the Safe Performance of Spinal Injection Procedures?, Pain Medicine, 1018. 19(10), 2089-2090, https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pny090
Schneider B, McCormick Z, O'Brien D, Bunch M, Smith CC. Patient Safety: Conscious Sedation. Pain Medicine 2018; 19: 1872-1873. Doi: 10.1093/pm/pny048
Patel J, DeFranesch F, Smith CC. "Spinal Cord Simulation in Patients with Permanent Pacemakers and Defibrillators. Pain Medicine. 2018; 19: 1693-1694. Doi: 10.1093/pm/pny049
Smith CC, Schneider B, McCormick ZL, Gill J, Loomba V, Engel D, Duszynski B, King W, ; Risks and Benefits of Ceasing or Continuing Anticoagulant Medication for Image-Guided Procedures for Spine Pain: A Systematic Review, Pain Medicine, Volume 19, Issue 3, 1 March 2018, Pages 438-448, https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnx152
McCormick, Zachary L., Byron Schneider, and Clark Smith. "Driving After an Epidural Steroid Injection Without Sedation." Pain Medicine (2018).
Smith, Clark, Fred DeFrancesch, and Jaymin Patel. "Radiofrequency Neurotomy for Facet Joint Pain in Patients with Permanent Pacemakers and Defibrillators." Pain Medicine (2018).
Miller D, Smith CC. FACTFINDERS FOR PATIENT SAFETY: NPO Prior to Interventional Spine Procedures. Pain Medicine. 19 (12), 2018, 2570-2571.
Patel, J., DeFrancesch, F., Smith, C. and Spine Intervention Society's Patient Safety Committee, 2018. Spinal Cord Stimulation Patients with Permanent Pacemakers and Defibrillators. Pain Medicine, 19(8), pp.1693-1694.
Byron J Schneider, Zachary McCormick, David O'Brien, Michael Bunch, Clark C Smith, on behalf of the Spine Intervention Society's Patient Safety Committee; Patient Safety: Conscious Sedation, Pain Medicine, pny048, https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pny048
Smith CC, Obrien D, King W., Laseter J., ; Masks, Gowns, and Caps for Interventional Spine Pain Procedures, Pain Medicine, 2018, pny016, https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pny016
McCormick, Z, Chung B, Smith CC.; Internal Skin Burn Due to Novel Radiofrequency Ablation Technology, Pain Medicine, pny017, https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pny017
Vorobeychik YM; Stojanovic MP; Smith CC. Letter to the Editor: Spinal Cord Infarction after Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection Using Dexamethasone. Pain Physician. 2017.
Miller D, Patel J, Smith CC. FactFinders for Patient Safety: Radiation Safety for Interventional Spine Procedures. Pain Medicine 2017; 0: 1-2 doi: 10.1093/pm/pnx302
Patel J, Schneider B, Smith CC. FACTFINDERS FOR PATIENT SAFETY: Intra-Articular Corticosteroid Injections and Hyperglycemia. Pain Medicine, 18 December 2017. pnx303, https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnx303
Page Break
Wade King, MMedSc MMed(Pain), David C. Miller, MD, MA,, Clark C. Smith, MD, MPH, on behalf of the Spine Intervention Society's Patient Safety Committee; Systemic Effects of Epidural Corticosteroid Injection. Pain Med 2017 pnx173. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnx173
Smith, CC. et al. FactFinders for Patient Safety: Gowning, Caps, and Masks for Interventional Spine Pain Procedures. Pain Medicine (2018). (In Press).
Popescu A, Patel J, Smith CC. FACTFINDERS FOR PATIENT SAFETY: Are Gadolinium-Based Contrast Media Safe Alternatives for Spine Procedures?" 2017. Pain Medicine (In Press)
Fred DeFrancesch, MD, David O'Brien, MD, Clark C. Smith, MD, MPH, on behalf of the Spine Intervention Society's Patient Safety Committee; Anesthetic Test Dose and Seizure Risk with Cervical Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection. Pain Med 2017 pnx170. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnx170
Byron J. Schneider, MD, Zachary L. McCormick, MD, Clark C. Smith, MD, MPH, on behalf of the Spine Intervention Society's Patient Safety Committee; Particulate or Nonparticulate Steroids for Lumbar Transforaminal Injections. Pain Med 2017 pnx171. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnx171
McCormick Z, Popescu A, Smith CC et al. Fact Finders for Patient Safety: Routine Intravenous Access for Epidural Steroid Injections Without Sedation. 2017. Pain Medicine. 2017; 18:1193-1194.
Vorobeychik, Yakov, Sharma, A, Smith CC et al. "The Effectiveness and Risks of Non-Image-Guided Lumbar Interlaminar Epidural Steroid Injections: A Systematic Review with Comprehensive Analysis of the Published Data." Pain Medicine 2016; 17:2185-2202. Doi: 10.1093/pm/pnw091
DePalma B, McCormick Z, Smith CC. Is There A Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Fluoroscopy Time During Sacroiliac Joint Injection? A Multicenter Cohort Study. 2015. Pain Medicine. 17:1 26 Dec 2015.
Smith Clark C. Fact Finder: Diabetes and Epidural Steroid Injections. International Spine Intervention Society. (2015) Published Online. www.spinalinjection.org
Kennedy DJ, Levin J, Rosequist R, Singh V, Smith CC, Stojanovic M, and Vorobeychik Y. "Epidural steroid injections are safe and effective: multisociety letter in support of the safety and effectiveness of epidural steroid injections." Pain Medicine 16.5 (2015): 833-838.
Mehta P, Sinha D, Smith CC, Singh JR. The Role of Interlaminar and Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections for Discogenic Low Back Pain without Radiation. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation International. 2014. 1(5)
Smith, Clark C., and Anna-Christina Bevelaqua. "Challenging Pain Syndromes: Parsonage-Turner Syndrome." Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics of North America 25.2 (2014): 265-277.
Smith Clark C. Fact Finder: Swabbing Vial Tops. Spine Intervention Society. (2014) Published Online.
Walega, David R., Clark Smith, and Joel B. Epstein. "Bilateral Stellate Ganglion Blockade for Recalcitrant Oral Pain from Burning Mouth Syndrome: A Case Report." Journal of Oral & Facial Pain & Headache 28.2 (2014).
Gagnon, C. M., Matsuura, J. T., Smith, C. C. and Stanos, S. P. (2014), Ethnicity and Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment. Pain Practice. 14 (6) 532-40. : doi: 10.1111/papr.12102
Smith CC, Telhan G. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. PM&R Knowledge Now. Published online. www.now.aapmr.org 2012.
Smith CC, Syrkin G. Achilles Tendinopathy. PM&R Knowledge Now. Published online. www.now.aapmr.org 2012.
Smith CC, Khan F, Asenjo JF, Benzon HT, "SI Joint Injections," Atlas of Pain Medicine Procedures. Eds. Sudhir Diwan and Peter Staats. McGraw Hill, Philadelphia, 2014.
Khan F, Smith CC, Asenjo JF, Benzon HT, "Deep Muscular Injections" Atlas of Pain Medicine Procedures. Eds. Sudhir Diwan and Peter Staats. McGraw Hill, Philadelphia, 2014.
Smith CC, Lin J, Shokat M. Spinal Cord Injury after Spinal Cord Stimulator Trial, Implantation and Revision. Pain Physician. 2010; 13;357-363.
Smith CC, Booker T, Schaufele MK, Weiss P: Interlaminar versus transforaminal epidural steroid injections for the treatment of symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis. Pain Medicine; 2010 Oct;11(10):1511-5.
Smith, CC. Health Care and the Stimulus Package. The PM&R Resident. Spring 2009 Issue: Vol. 18, No. 2