Phillip Brian Smith

Phillip Brian Smith serves as the Samuel L. Katz Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics at Duke University School of Medicine, with a primary appointment in the Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology. He is also a Member of the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI), where he has been affiliated since 2007. His academic trajectory shows significant advancement, having been promoted to Professor of Pediatrics in 2015 and receiving the distinguished Samuel L. Katz Professorship in Pediatrics in 2018.

Dr. Smith's educational background includes an M.D. from Mercer University (2001), an M.H.S. in clinical research from Duke University School of Medicine (2006), and an M.P.H. in biostatistics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2009). His clinical training comprised a pediatrics residency and neonatal medicine fellowship, both completed at Duke University Medical Center in 2004 and 2007, respectively.

His research program centers on pediatric drug safety, neonatal pharmacology, and the epidemiology of neonatal infections, with particular emphasis on understanding medication effects in vulnerable newborn populations. Dr. Smith has served as protocol chair for more than 14 clinical studies, demonstrating leadership in designing and implementing rigorous clinical research in neonatology. His work frequently addresses critical questions regarding medication safety and effectiveness in premature and term infants, with a growing focus on the environmental influences on child health outcomes.

Analysis of Dr. Smith's recent publication record (2023-2025) reveals a strong focus on the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program, with numerous multi-cohort studies examining how prenatal and early childhood exposures affect neurodevelopment, respiratory health, and other pediatric outcomes. His work spans diverse areas including neonatal opioid withdrawal, autism spectrum disorders, sleep quality, maternal stress effects, and pharmacological interventions in neonatal intensive care.

Dr. Smith serves as Principal Investigator for the NIH-funded Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Coordinating Center (2023-2030), demonstrating his leadership in large-scale, multi-institutional research. He also participates in the Comparative Effectiveness of Emerging Medications in Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease study (2025-2031) and the Unified Program for Therapeutics in Children (2025-2030), indicating his broad research interests across pediatric subspecialties.

While specific advising relationships aren't detailed in the available information, Dr. Smith's leadership roles in major research initiatives suggests significant mentorship responsibilities. His work with the DCRI and ECHO program likely involves guiding junior researchers and fostering collaborative science across multiple institutions.