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Headshot - Tom Smith

Professor Thomas Smith

Reader in Aerospace Medicine

  • Head of Aerospace Medicine Research

Research interests

  • Medicine

Biography

Prof Thomas G. Smith MBBS DAvMed DPhil FRCA FRCP FRAeS

Macintosh Professor, Royal College of Anaesthetists

Prof Smith is a clinician-scientist specialising in aerospace medicine, cardiopulmonary physiology and anaesthetics. He is a Consultant Anaesthetist at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and has worked extensively in aeromedical critical care as a flying doctor. He graduated from medicine at the University of Adelaide, Australia, and was based at the University of Oxford (2003-2017) before moving to King's. He is a former Rhodes Scholar and Churchill Fellow. Prof Smith is a Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association and an Academician of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine. He is the UK Medical Research Council’s advisor in aerospace medicine, Chair of the Royal Aeronautical Society's Aerospace Medicine Group, and a member of the UK Space Agency's Space Exploration Advisory Committee.

In March 2020, Prof Smith was released from his responsibilities at King’s to support the NHS frontline response to the COVID-19 pandemic at its most critical time. He joined a ‘surge’ rota in critical care at GSTT hospital as part of the mobile emergency rapid intubation team.

Clinical profile

Publications

#MedSciLife

Research

aerospace-herofixed
Aerospace Medicine & Physiology Research Group

Understanding physiological responses to aviation and space flight and their medical implications.

Respiratory medicine thumbnail
Respiratory Physiology & Medicine

This group aims to improve clinical care through a better understanding of respiratory physiology in health & disease

News

High altitude training shows promise for patients ahead of surgery

Simulated high altitude could help older patients at risk of health complications related to surgery, a new study has found.

hypoxic hyperoxic training, medical spa, oxygen mask

Physiology graduates contribute £22.6 billion to the UK economy every year

King's Centre for Human & Applied Physiological Sciences contributed to report launched in parliament today

RAF

King's academic provides emergency care to critically ill COVID-19 patients

Dr Thomas Smith, Head of Aerospace Medicine Research at King’s and Honorary Consultant Anaesthetist at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT), is one...

Dr Thomas Smith wearing PPE

Thomas Smith recognised by Aerospace Medical Association

Dr Smith was honoured with the Eric Liljencrantz Award recognising his exceptional achievements over more than 15 years of basic research into the problems of...

Thomas Smith

Research

aerospace-herofixed
Aerospace Medicine & Physiology Research Group

Understanding physiological responses to aviation and space flight and their medical implications.

Respiratory medicine thumbnail
Respiratory Physiology & Medicine

This group aims to improve clinical care through a better understanding of respiratory physiology in health & disease

News

High altitude training shows promise for patients ahead of surgery

Simulated high altitude could help older patients at risk of health complications related to surgery, a new study has found.

hypoxic hyperoxic training, medical spa, oxygen mask

Physiology graduates contribute £22.6 billion to the UK economy every year

King's Centre for Human & Applied Physiological Sciences contributed to report launched in parliament today

RAF

King's academic provides emergency care to critically ill COVID-19 patients

Dr Thomas Smith, Head of Aerospace Medicine Research at King’s and Honorary Consultant Anaesthetist at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT), is one...

Dr Thomas Smith wearing PPE

Thomas Smith recognised by Aerospace Medical Association

Dr Smith was honoured with the Eric Liljencrantz Award recognising his exceptional achievements over more than 15 years of basic research into the problems of...

Thomas Smith