Meet Jeff
I am an orthopaedic trauma surgeon in San Diego, Director of Education and a surgeon coach with SurgeonMasters, and the fellowship director of Unite Orthopaedics Foundation.
I have more than 500 hours of one-on-one surgeon coaching experience and 500+ hours of accredited coach training.
You can find my thoughts about the practice of medicine in the SurgeonMasters blog and as the host of the SurgeonMasters Podcast, Life Improvement Strategies for the Surgeon Who Wants More… in 10 Minutes. I also frequently share my perspective in presentations on topics like surgeon wellness, surgeon coaching, and my experience with burnout.
Coaching Specialty: Practice Optimization, Wellness, Work-Life Rhythm
I do what I do to make a major positive impact on other people's lives.
More About Jeff's Why
From the Blog:


Improv Skills Physicians Can Use to Improve Their Practices
Physicians are trained to find answers and draft a plan of action. We lead our patients and our teams in pursuit of the best care


What Do You Want? How Will You Get It?
Picture this… You have a supportive, focused group of professional peers helping you reflect on what you want and how you can get it. If


How Coaching at the Cleveland Clinic Saved $133 Million
Getting asked the question, “What’s Up Doc?” rarely comes with the expectation of an honest answer. But the power of this question shouldn’t be dismissed.
Latest News:


Jeff Letter April 2022
Community: “A group of people with diverse characteristics who are linked by social ties, share common perspectives, and engage in joint action in geographical locations


Jeffrey M. Smith, MD to speak at AAOS 2022
Chicago, IL., March 23, 2022 – SurgeonMasters CEO Jeffrey M. Smith, MD, FACS, CPC to deliver a talk, Evaluating the need and value of a


Jeffrey M. Smith, MD to speak at SAGES 2022
Denver, CO., March 16, 2022 – SurgeonMasters CEO Jeffrey M. Smith, MD, FACS, CPC to deliver a talk, Life and Leadership Coaching: Optimizing Wellbeing, Emotional
From the Podcast:


Routine Capture! – Life improvement strategies for the surgeon who wants more … in 10 minutes – Episode 93
Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better… Jeff welcomes to the


Team Debrief! – Life improvement strategies for the surgeon who wants more … in 10 minutes – Episode 92
Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better… Jeff welcomes to the


Environmental Culture! – The SurgeonMasters Podcast
Jeff welcomes to the podcast Stuart Slavin MD, MEd – a Senior Scholar for Well-Being at the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The
Letters from Jeff:
Jeff Letter – March 2022
As physicians we’re taught to bury emotions. That may mean our health and well-being can come second to that of our patients. But it doesn’t
Jeff Letter – February 2022
What is it about titles? I have several hang-ups about titles. I don’t want to have my name followed by a bunch of titles. It
Jeff Letter – December 2021
Hi Community, During the holiday season, I reflect on my life and career in a more spiritual way (not necessarily just religious) than I do