Kenton O. Smitherman, MD

Kenton Smitherman, MD, is a board-certified internal medicine physician who specializes in caring for hospitalized patients. As a hospitalist, Dr. Smitherman is assigned to patients at the time of admission and provides care only during their hospital stay. He does not see patients at outpatient clinics and is not available for appointments. Upon a patient's discharge, Dr. Smitherman communicates with their regular physician to ensure quality care.

As an associate professor in the Department of Medicine, Dr. Smitherman instructs medical students, residents and fellows.

Dr. Smitherman completed infectious disease and critical care fellowships at Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C. He completed his internal medicine residency at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and earned his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Ga. Prior to completing his residency, Dr. Smitherman served in the U.S. Navy as a general medical officer and a flight surgeon. He is board-certified in internal medicine, infectious disease and critical care medicine.

He is a member of UC San Diego Health's Antibiotic Stewardship Committee and Joint Transfusion Committee. He is also a member of the UC San Diego Medical Center Dietetic Internship Board of Directors.

Dr. Smitherman has been named one of San Diego Magazine's "Top Doctors" several times.