Humankindess at Work: Amanda Smith, Primary Care Provider

At Saint Joseph Medical Group – Primary Care in Lexington, Amanda Smith, MD, sees patients who are a 50/50 split between adults and children — and that’s what she likes about her job.

“I like the variety and I like being able to see families — the kids, the adults, the grandparents,” she said. “I think it’s valuable because you have some insights into not only medical history, but social situations, family dynamics. Sometimes I might not hear from one family member for a while, but I’ve got another family member who’s keeping me in the loop and making sure they get the necessary follow-up.”

Besides the variety, which she said keeps her staying current with the latest in medicine, Dr. Smith also enjoys the social aspect of community medicine that can give her anything from a laugh to — in the case of one patient — book recommendations.

“I enjoy moving from a reflective conversation with one of my elderly patients who has a lot of wisdom to laughing with a 4-year-old in the next room. The 4-year-old checkup is probably my favorite visit because I just love talking to children at that age,” Dr. Smith said. 

Patient reviews often praise her as a good listener, a skill she said helps her make a diagnosis and guide treatment. “Sometimes you get some bonus non-medical information that is fun, too. You get to find out little nuggets about your patients that you might not have known otherwise,” she added.

Dr. Smith is certified in both internal medicine and pediatrics. She completed her residency at University of Kentucky in 2012, followed by a year there as chief resident, where she had hospitalist and resident education duties. She said that experience solidified her desire to work in primary care, with its continuity of care. She joined Saint Joseph in 2013.

Her roots in medicine stem from the summer of her senior year in high school, when she worked at the front desk of a family practice in her hometown of Winchester. The combination of the family physician’s scientific training and knowledge of the community and patients inspired her.

The sense of community in primary care is important to her. “I like the enduring relationships,” she said. “I enjoy people. I enjoy the different personalities you get to interact with. I enjoy finding out the little quirks about people. When you know more than just what’s on a piece of paper, you can provide better care.”

Dr. Smith’s years of service for Saint Joseph stem from a couple of factors, one being a team atmosphere. “I think it’s unique in that we really do all work together so well, from providers to front staff to CMAs — it’s a really cohesive group, and I think that is unusual in today’s time. We all are pretty invested in one another,” she said.

The other pull is tied to the Saint Joseph mission, she said: “The ability to see anybody who wants to be seen for the most part. That is a big draw for me because I want to be able to provide care for every type of insurance, every type of person.”

Dr. Smith’s approach to patient care is one of the reasons she was named Saint Joseph Medical Group’s 2024 physician of the year. Another factor is the work she did with fellow physician, Benjamin Neltner, MD, to establish a Primary Care Council for Saint Joseph Health, the Kentucky market of CommonSpirit Health.

Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Smith said, “We just realized how disconnected all the primary care providers were from one another. We created this to help give our colleagues a voice and also to help provide connections among the different offices and different providers so we can learn from one another’s mistakes and successes and we can put our heads together to solve problems that are common to all of us.”

The council brings together representatives from each of the primary care offices in the area — about 10 in all — for quarterly meetings. Topics have included improving coordination and communication between hospitals and primary care offices, the patient access center and general physician well-being. She calls the formation of the council a “turning point” for her personally.

Dr. Smith now lives in Lexington, near her office, but family members still reside in Winchester, where her husband, Tim, runs a medical practice management business. The couple has two children, ages 11 and 14. Among their favorite activities is wake surfing on Lake Cumberland in warm weather.

Out of five major Saint Joseph values, Dr. Smith said she identifies most with collaboration: with her patients, with her office team, with specialists and with the Primary Care Council.

“Collaboration,” she said, “is the one “that really defines me.”

Experience care that puts you first. Schedule your visit with our primary care team today and see Dr. Smith’s patient-centered approach in action.