Douglas Smith, MD

Doug Smith

Douglas Smith, MD, is a pediatric epileptologist at Minnesota Epilepsy Group.

Dr. Smith graduated from The College of New Jersey before attending New Jersey Medical School. He completed his pediatrics residency at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and his child neurology residency at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he also completed his fellowship.

Dr. Smith’s areas of expertise and interest include genetic epilepsy, neonatal epilepsy, metabolic and mitochondrial epilepsy, tuberous sclerosis, and gene therapy. Outside of medicine, Dr. Smith enjoys exploring state parks with his daughter, where they both like to discover all the birds, insects, mushrooms, and flora that Minnesota has to offer.

Dr. Smith encourages patient and parent participation in the decision-making process when it comes to care. “There rarely is a single right answer in epilepsy care – the brain is just too complicated! My goal is to ensure every patient understands the reasoning behind the decisions I am recommending.”

Dr. Smith has been published in journals such as Neurology, Journal of Child Neurology, Neurotherapeutics, Human Mutation, and Epilepsy Research. He frequently lectures for the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota and the Dravet Syndrome Foundation.

Education & Training

  • Undergraduate – The College of New Jersey
  • Medical School – New Jersey Medical School
  • Pediatrics Residency – Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center
  • Child Neurology Residency – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
  • Fellowship – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Areas Of Expertise

Areas of Active Interest – Genetic Epilepsy / Neonatal Epilepsy / Metabolic & Mitochondrial Epilepsy / Gene Therapy / Tuberous Sclerosis

Selected Publications

  1. Fitzgerald MP, Fiannacca M, Smith DM, Møller RM, Bearden D et al. Treatment responsiveness in KCNT1-related epilepsy. Neurotherapeutics. 2019 Jul;16(3):848-857.
  2. Zarate YA, Bosanko KA, Caffrey AR, Bernstein JA, Martin DM, Williams MS, Smith DM, Gavrilova R, Fish JL et al. Mutation update for the SATB2 gene. Human Mutation. 2019 Aug;40(8):1013-1029.
  3. Johannesen K, Gardella E, Scheffer I, Howell K, Smith DM, Helbig I, Moller R, Rubboli, G. Early mortality in SCN8A-related epilepsies. Epilepsy Res. 2018 Apr 13;143:79-81.
  4. Smith DM, Vossough, A, Vorona, G, Beslow, L, Ichord, R, Licht, D. Pediatric cavernous sinus thrombosis: A case series and review of the literature. Neurology. 2015 Sep 1;85(9):763-9.

Interests Outside Medicine

Discovering all the birds, insects, and flora Minnesota has to offer while exploring the state parks with his daughter.

Leadership & Membership

Professional Organizations

American Academy of Neurology / American Epilepsy Society

Leadership Roles

  • Founder & Director, Genetic Epilepsy Clinic
  • Director, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Center of Excellence
  • Resident & Fellow Site Director

Medical Licenses

Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wisconsin

Clinic Nurse

Kaytlin E.