M Cristy Smith, MD

Dr. Cristy Smith is a cardiothoracic surgeon and the surgical director for the Providence Heart Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support programs. Dr. Smith performs a broad range of cardiac surgeries with an emphasis on surgical treatments for heart failure that include placement of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), heart transplants, total artificial heart surgery and placement of extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO). Completing her cardiac fellowship at the University of Arizona, Dr. Smith trained in heart failure surgery under Jack Copeland, M.D., one of the leaders in heart transplantation and creator of the Cardiowest total artificial heart. Dr. Smith stayed on at the University of Arizona and continued to further her passion for heart failure surgery rising to director of transplant and mechanical devices until 2013. She brought that expertise to the Pacific Northwest where she established an LVAD/ECMO program on the west side of Washington State. Dr. Smith returned to her transplant roots when she assumed the role of surgical director for heart transplant and mechanical circulatory support at Providence Heart Institute in Spokane. She is dedicated to furthering the advancements of our Spokane programs with her continued work in minimally invasive LVAD therapy and the latest technologies in heart transplantation and life support. Dr. Smith has received numerous honors and awards in recognition of her achievements. She shares her knowledge with providers and consumers on topics ranging from post-op care of cardiac patients and heart disease in women to frontiers in minimally invasive placement of LVADs. In 2021, Spokane Coeur d’Alene Living Magazine named Dr. Smith a top doctor in the region.