A native Memphian, Dr. Linda Smiley graduated Summa Cum Laude from Christian Brothers University and attended medical school at the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences. She completed her Internship and Residency in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Tennessee, Memphis and her fellowship at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. She also received the Clinical Oncology Fellowship Award from the American Cancer Society, 1989-1990. Dr. Smiley is Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology and holds medical licenses in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi. She was nominated for The Doctor Is In by one of the patients whose life she has touched since joining The West Clinic in 1995.

Role model? Brother Dominic Dunn, a Biology professor at Christian Brothers University who encouraged me to pursue my dream of being a doctor.  He helped me to know that I could do anything I set my mind to.

Motivation? My patients, my family and my friends encourage me to go the extra mile. How do you maintain a work/life balance? You have to be sure you make time for family and pleasure.  This balance gives you the energy to stay focused and excited about work.

What is your greatest accomplishment?Adopting my daughter, Elizabeth, at age 12 from Russia.  She added a new dimension to my life.  I cannot imagine my life now without her.

Favorite quote or song lyric… Give someone a hand and you will both climb higher. What would you do if you weren’t a doctor? Since I was young, I knew I wanted to go into something in the medical field. If I had to choose an alternative, it probably would have been a CPA since I enjoyed math and manipulating numbers.

“My patients… keep me motivated to look for new answers to old problems.”

What is the most exciting medical breakthrough you’ve witnessed in your career? They are two-fold.  The first is the increase in drugs to fight cancer as well as the supportive drugs such as anti-nausea drugs to decrease the side effects.  The other advance has been in minimally invasive surgery.

Where do you see your specialty in 10 years? Over the next ten years I hope we find more genetic keys in the fight to cure cancer.

Good Health Advice? Make time to do the recommended screening tests – be it mammograms, Pap smears, colonoscopy or PSA.  It could save your life.

Nominate Your Doctor! Good Health Magazine wants to recognize your doctor, the one who’s made a difference in your life and health. Make a nomination at commercialappeal.com/findadoc and you may find that your doctor is in - the next edition of Good Health Magazine.