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Kris Smith, MD, is a neurosurgeon at Barrow Neurological Institute. He is the director of the Stereotactic-Functional-Epilepsy Fellowship Program, the Hypothalamic Hamartoma Program, and the Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Program. He also serves as co-director of neurosurgical oncology and radiology services, including Gamma Knife, CyberKnife, and Zap-X.
Dr. Smith’s expertise includes the comprehensive management of brain tumors and the surgical treatment of medically refractory epilepsy. He strives to balance minimally invasive techniques with the extent of resection needed to optimize patient outcomes. Dr. Smith is a firm believer in patient education and a holistic approach to treatment, including the use of precision medicine and a focus on quality of life.
Dr. Smith earned his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and his medical degree from the University of Nevada—Reno School of Medicine. He completed a general surgery internship at the Phoenix Integrated Surgical Residency Program at Banner—University Medical Center Phoenix and his neurosurgery residency at Barrow. Dr. Smith trained in Gamma Knife radiosurgery at the University of Pittsburg and at Karolinska Institute in Stockhold, Sweden, where stereotactic radiosurgery was originally developed. He completed an enfolded fellowship in epilepsy surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.
As a medical student, Dr. Smith published his first paper on a new model of epilepsy and the novel findings of the importance of the GABA-B receptor. He presented his work at an international pharmacology meeting. These were the first of hundreds of publications and presentations on various topics in neurosurgery throughout his career.
Please call (602) 406-3181 to request an appointment with Dr. Smith.
- Gamma Knife radiosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh and at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden 1995
- In-folded fellowship in Epilepsy Surgery, Cleveland Clinic 1995
- Residency, Barrow Neurological Institute, Neurosurgery, 1990-1996
- General Surgery Internship, Phoenix Integrated Surgical Residency Program, 1989-1990
- MD, University of Nevada School of Medicine, 1989
- BS, Brigham Young University, 1984
- American Medical Association
- American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
- Arizona Foundation for Medical Care
- Joint Section on Tumors, AANS & CNS
- Joint Section on Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, AANS & CNS
- Maricopa County Medical Society
- North American Skull Base Society
- Rocky Mountain Neurosurgical Society
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons
- American Medical Association
- Alpha Omega Alpha
- Phi Kappa Phi
- Treasurer, Arizona Neurosurgical Society
- Past-President of the Rocky Mountain Neurosurgical Society
- Past President of the Arizona Neurosurgical Society
- Academy Cup, Rocky Mountain Neurosurgical Society, Best Scientific Presentation
- Alpha Omega Alpha
Laser Ablation of Abnormal Neurological Tissue Using Robotic NeuroBlate System (LAANTERN): 12-Month Outcomes and Quality of Life After Brain Tumor Ablation.
Date: 09/2020
Authors: Albert H Kim, Steven Tatter, Ganesh Rao, Sujit Prabhu, Clark Chen, Peter Fecci, Veronica Chiang, Kris A Smith, Brian J Williams, Alireza M Mohammadi, Kevin Judy, Andrew Sloan, Zulma Tovar-Spinoza, James Baumgartner, Constantinos Hadjipanayis, Eric C Leuthardt
Multiple Subpial Transections in Eloquent Cortex for Refractory Epilepsy: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.
Date: 08/2020
Authors: Alexander C Whiting, Claudio Cavallo, Nicholas Rubel, Joshua S Catapano, Corey T Walker, Kris A Smith
In Reply to the Letter to the Editor Regarding "Laparoscopic-Assisted Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Placement and Reduction in Operative Time and Total Hospital Charges".
Date: 08/2020
Authors: Joshua S Catapano, Andrew W Mezher, Derrick J Wang, Alexander C Whiting, Michael A Mooney, Michael A Bohl, John P Sheehy, Joseph D DiDomenico, Christina E Sarris, Kris A Smith, Michael T. Lawton, Joseph M Zabramski
Neuroanesthesia Guidelines for Optimizing Transcranial Motor Evoked Potential Neuromonitoring During Deformity and Complex Spinal Surgery: A Delphi Consensus Study.
Date: 07/2020
Authors: Corey T Walker, Han Jo Kim, Paul Park, Lawrence G Lenke, Mark A Weller, Justin S Smith, Edward C Nemergut, Daniel M Sciubba, Michael Y Wang, Christopher Shaffrey, Vedat Deviren, Praveen V Mummaneni, Joyce M Chang, Valli P Mummaneni, Khoi D Than, Pedro Berjano, Robert K Eastlack, Gregory M Mundis, Adam S Kanter, David O Okonkwo, John H Shin, Jason M Lewis, Tyler Koski, Daniel J Hoh, Steven D Glassman, Susan B Vinci, Alan H Daniels, Claudia F Clavijo, Jay D Turner, Marc McLawhorn, Juan S. Uribe
Seizure and neuropsychological outcomes in a large series of selective amygdalohippocampectomies with a minimally invasive subtemporal approach.
Date: 06/2020
Authors: Alexander C Whiting, Tsinsue Chen, Kyle I Swanson, Corey T Walker, Jakub Godzik, Joshua S Catapano, Kris A Smith
- English
- German


- (602) 406-3181
- Fax: (602) 406-6398

Kris Smith, MD, is a neurosurgeon at Barrow Neurological Institute. He is the director of the Stereotactic-Functional-Epilepsy Fellowship Program, the Hypothalamic Hamartoma Program, and the Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Program. He also serves as co-director of neurosurgical oncology and radiology services, including Gamma Knife, CyberKnife, and Zap-X.
Dr. Smith’s expertise includes the comprehensive management of brain tumors and the surgical treatment of medically refractory epilepsy. He strives to balance minimally invasive techniques with the extent of resection needed to optimize patient outcomes. Dr. Smith is a firm believer in patient education and a holistic approach to treatment, including the use of precision medicine and a focus on quality of life.
Dr. Smith earned his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and his medical degree from the University of Nevada—Reno School of Medicine. He completed a general surgery internship at the Phoenix Integrated Surgical Residency Program at Banner—University Medical Center Phoenix and his neurosurgery residency at Barrow. Dr. Smith trained in Gamma Knife radiosurgery at the University of Pittsburg and at Karolinska Institute in Stockhold, Sweden, where stereotactic radiosurgery was originally developed. He completed an enfolded fellowship in epilepsy surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.
As a medical student, Dr. Smith published his first paper on a new model of epilepsy and the novel findings of the importance of the GABA-B receptor. He presented his work at an international pharmacology meeting. These were the first of hundreds of publications and presentations on various topics in neurosurgery throughout his career.
Please call (602) 406-3181 to request an appointment with Dr. Smith.

- (602) 406-3181
- Fax: (602) 406-6398
- Gamma Knife radiosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh and at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden 1995
- In-folded fellowship in Epilepsy Surgery, Cleveland Clinic 1995
- Residency, Barrow Neurological Institute, Neurosurgery, 1990-1996
- General Surgery Internship, Phoenix Integrated Surgical Residency Program, 1989-1990
- MD, University of Nevada School of Medicine, 1989
- BS, Brigham Young University, 1984
- American Medical Association
- American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
- Arizona Foundation for Medical Care
- Joint Section on Tumors, AANS & CNS
- Joint Section on Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, AANS & CNS
- Maricopa County Medical Society
- North American Skull Base Society
- Rocky Mountain Neurosurgical Society
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons
- American Medical Association
- Alpha Omega Alpha
- Phi Kappa Phi
- Treasurer, Arizona Neurosurgical Society
- Past-President of the Rocky Mountain Neurosurgical Society
- Past President of the Arizona Neurosurgical Society
- Academy Cup, Rocky Mountain Neurosurgical Society, Best Scientific Presentation
- Alpha Omega Alpha
Laser Ablation of Abnormal Neurological Tissue Using Robotic NeuroBlate System (LAANTERN): 12-Month Outcomes and Quality of Life After Brain Tumor Ablation.
Date: 09/2020
Authors: Albert H Kim, Steven Tatter, Ganesh Rao, Sujit Prabhu, Clark Chen, Peter Fecci, Veronica Chiang, Kris A Smith, Brian J Williams, Alireza M Mohammadi, Kevin Judy, Andrew Sloan, Zulma Tovar-Spinoza, James Baumgartner, Constantinos Hadjipanayis, Eric C Leuthardt
Multiple Subpial Transections in Eloquent Cortex for Refractory Epilepsy: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.
Date: 08/2020
Authors: Alexander C Whiting, Claudio Cavallo, Nicholas Rubel, Joshua S Catapano, Corey T Walker, Kris A Smith
In Reply to the Letter to the Editor Regarding "Laparoscopic-Assisted Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Placement and Reduction in Operative Time and Total Hospital Charges".
Date: 08/2020
Authors: Joshua S Catapano, Andrew W Mezher, Derrick J Wang, Alexander C Whiting, Michael A Mooney, Michael A Bohl, John P Sheehy, Joseph D DiDomenico, Christina E Sarris, Kris A Smith, Michael T. Lawton, Joseph M Zabramski
Neuroanesthesia Guidelines for Optimizing Transcranial Motor Evoked Potential Neuromonitoring During Deformity and Complex Spinal Surgery: A Delphi Consensus Study.
Date: 07/2020
Authors: Corey T Walker, Han Jo Kim, Paul Park, Lawrence G Lenke, Mark A Weller, Justin S Smith, Edward C Nemergut, Daniel M Sciubba, Michael Y Wang, Christopher Shaffrey, Vedat Deviren, Praveen V Mummaneni, Joyce M Chang, Valli P Mummaneni, Khoi D Than, Pedro Berjano, Robert K Eastlack, Gregory M Mundis, Adam S Kanter, David O Okonkwo, John H Shin, Jason M Lewis, Tyler Koski, Daniel J Hoh, Steven D Glassman, Susan B Vinci, Alan H Daniels, Claudia F Clavijo, Jay D Turner, Marc McLawhorn, Juan S. Uribe
Seizure and neuropsychological outcomes in a large series of selective amygdalohippocampectomies with a minimally invasive subtemporal approach.
Date: 06/2020
Authors: Alexander C Whiting, Tsinsue Chen, Kyle I Swanson, Corey T Walker, Jakub Godzik, Joshua S Catapano, Kris A Smith
- English
- German
