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Outstanding Alumnus Award
This year’s Outstanding Alumnus recipient’s service to the Northern Lower and Eastern Upper Peninsulas hearkens back to the early days of the traveling physician, making their rounds to distant communities caring for their patients while building long-term, personal relationships with them and their families.Edward F. Smith M.D. perpetuates this tradition as a modern-day oncologist who visits with patients at hospitals in Petoskey, St. Ignace, Newberry and Sault Ste. Marie while being supportive of the communities he serves through his philanthropy and volunteerism.
Dr. Smith is the recipient of the 2018 Outstanding Alumnus Award – the highest award bestowed by the Alumni Association. Dr. Smith earned a bachelor of arts degree in biology/chemistry from Lake Superior State College, graduating cum laude in 1978. He completed his doctor of medicine from Michigan State University, graduating with honors from the College of Human medicine in 1982.
“I am very honored to receive this recognition from LSSU,” said Dr. Smith. “For me, it was a very memorable four years at LSSU as a student, and I would do it again. I was attracted to LSSU by the small size and the excellent academic reputation in the science programs. I had many wonderful professors and I would like to express a special thanks to all who were part of the Biology, Chemistry and Math departments from 1974-1978. I will not single out any individuals because each of them provided me with knowledge that helped me throughout medical school at Michigan State University as well as my Hematology/Oncology training at the University of Michigan.”
With more than 36 years of diverse experience, Dr. Smith affiliates with many hospitals, including Mackinac Straits Hospital, Northern Michigan Hematology and Oncology in Petoskey, McLaren Northern Michigan, Helen Newberry Joy Hospital, Mackinac Straits Hematology/Oncology, and War Memorial Hospital. Prior to this, Dr. Smith served as a National Health Service Corp Physician from 1986 to 1989; a physician in private practice in St. Ignace as well as medical staff member of Mackinac Straits Long Term Care Facility from 1986-1995. He was the deputy medical examiner for Mackinac County from 1986-1995 and served as the medical director for Mackinac Straits Long Term Care Facility from 1988-1991.
Dr. Smith is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine for general medicine, hematology and oncology. He was elected as a Fellow of the American College of Physicians in 2013.
He interned in internal medicine at Blodgett Memorial Medical Center in Grand Rapids from 1982-83; he was a resident at the same location from 1983-85; and was a fellow in hematology and oncology at the University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor from 1995-98.
Dr. Smith is or has been a member of the American College of Physicians; the American Society of Hematology; the American Society of Clinical Oncology; the Michigan Oncology Quality Consortium Steering Committee; and the Michigan Society of Hematology and Oncology (also serving on the Board). The MSHO, based in Troy, Michigan, notes that Dr. Smith is admired by his fellow board members for his heroic efforts in traveling long distances to attend board meetings. They are grateful for his service on the board and for representing the Upper Peninsula.
Dr. Smith’s research experience includes working as a research fellow to develop and investigate thrombostatins; as well as time with the Southwest Oncology Group through Karmanos Cancer Institute and also through the Community Clinic Oncology Program with Grand Rapids. He was the principal investigator for Northern Michigan Regional Hospital from 2007-2009.
Dr. Smith has taught LSSU nursing students in their oncology rotation. He has done Grand Rounds for thrombosis and hemostasis at Northern Michigan Hospital; for nonsmall cell lung cancer at War Memorial Hospital; for iron deficiency anemia at Helen Newberry Joy Hospital; for iron deficiency anemia at War Memorial Hospital; and for lymphocytosis at War Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Smith is quite involved in his community and also with LSSU. He served on the Board of Directors of the UP State Credit Union in St. Ignace from 2012 to 2105. He helped establish the “No Cancer Patient Left Behind Fund,” a financial assistance fund for cancer patients, at Mackinac Straits Hospital. He created and developed a nursing scholarship/internship for LSSU nursing students at Mackinac Straits Hospital. He generously supports the Sault High hockey team, where his son Bradley played. Long after his son’s graduation from Sault High, Dr. Smith teamed up with the Blue Devil Hockey’s Board of Directors for their “Pink in the Rink” events to support War Memorial Hospital’s Road to Recovery Program, providing transportation for cancer patients requiring radiation treatments in Petoskey, Michigan.
Lake Superior State gave to me a great education, great friends, great memories – and how can anyone ask for more than that from a college?Edward F. Smith M.D.
Dr. Smith has served on the Lake Superior State University Foundation Board of Directors since 2012. He and his wife Jill established a scholarship at LSSU to assist a student who is enrolled in a pre-med concentration program. Jill is an oncology nurse at Mackinac Straits Hospital. Dr. Smith regularly participates in the Lake State Golf Classic tournament. He supported the South Hall renovation project, the Center for Freshwater Research and Education, Laker Club and the Fund for LSSU.
“Living in St. Ignace the last 32 years has made it easy to return to LSSU and Sault Ste. Marie and watch the campus change with construction of new buildings and renovation of old ones,” said Dr. Smith. “First it was cheering on the Laker hockey team, then it was watching our son Bradley play both youth and high school hockey in Sault Ste. Marie and now my wife Jill and I regularly travel there to provide care for cancer patients.
“I have also had the privilege of giving academic lectures to biology and nursing classes. Our Oncology Department at Mackinac Straits Hospital has nursing students spend time with us learning about cancer care. The Lake State Classic and being part of the LSSU Foundation have been a good way to see alumni from the past as well as meet new Lakers.”
Dr. Smith and his wife Jill have one son, Bradley.
The Outstanding Alumnus Award will be presented at the annual Alumni Awards banquet on November 2 during Great Lake State Weekend, LSSU’s homecoming. Tickets for the banquet must be reserved in advance and are available online or by phone from the Alumni Association 906-635-6219.
The Outstanding Alumnus Award, established in 1968, is the highest honor that the association presents. It recognizes recipients for their personal and professional accomplishments and their involvement with LSSU, highlighting the significant achievements of alumni who serve as leaders in our region, state and nations.