Kendra M. Smith, MD

Dr. Smith's research focus is on lung injury prevention in the preterm and term neonate. She has studied ventilator techniques and different ventilation support modalities and is currently working clinically on strategies to minimize lung trauma in infants requiring ventilation due to respiratory failure at birth, particularly in very sick preterm and term infants. For patients with diaphragmatic hernia who require extracorporeal life support (ECLS) she is working on a clinical study involving the use of liquid ventilation to promote better preservation of the lung architecture. She has been asked to participate in a national study to evaluate high frequency ventilation and also one involving a medication to lower pulmonary pressures in neonates. In the laboratory she is working on analyzing the effects of inhaled nitric oxide on elevated pulmonary pressures during extracorporeal life support. Because of these interests, she serves as the Manager of Divisional Respiratory Care Programs with the goal of promoting improved ventilation strategies for neonates requiring ventilatory support in our region. Dr. Smith is also involved in the ECLS program for neonates and serves on the Steering Committee, which focuses on improving techniques to maximally support newborn infants not responsive to conventional ventilatory therapies. As well, she serves as the Medical Director of the Children’s Ground Transport Team and is an advisor for Airlift Northwest's neonatal transports.