Skip to Main Content

Wade S. Smith

MD PhD

Neurologist
Critical care specialist
Director, UCSF Neurovascular Service
Band member of Bubba's Taxi – on saxophone, guitar and vocals

Dr. Wade Smith, director of the UCSF Neurovascular Service, specializes in stroke prevention, management of acute stroke, critical care medicine and medical management after stroke. He has expertise in transcranial Doppler techniques for cerebral blood-flow monitoring. As a neurointensivist – a specialist in both critical care and neurology – he directs UCSF's 16-bed neurological intensive care unit, dedicated to patients with neurological injuries. He evaluates many patients who have been referred for a second or third opinion, though he also evaluates patients who are seeing a neurologist for the first time.

Smith earned both his medical degree and a doctorate in neurophysiology from the University of Washington. He completed a residency as well as a fellowship in critical care medicine at UCSF.

  • Education

    University of Washington, 1989

  • Residencies

    UCSF, Neurology, 1993

  • Fellowships

    UCSF, Critical Care, 1994

  • Board Certifications

    Neurology, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

  • Academic Title

    Professor

I want to ensure that anyone having a stroke in our country can get rapid access to the best care possible, as patients do at UCSF.

Clinics I work with

Stroke Clinic

400 Parnassus Ave., Eighth Floor
San Francisco, CA 94143

Vascular Laboratory

Cardiovascular Care & Prevention Center

400 Parnassus Ave., Fifth Floor, Suite 501
San Francisco, CA 94143

My reviews

4.9

Overall Experience
38 Ratings
About our process
Sep 09, 2023
Dr. Smith is incredibly knowledgeable and very caring
Sep 04, 2023
He came across as a nice courteous doctor who tried his best to help.
Jul 07, 2023
Dr. Wade has provided me with excelllent care for decades
Jun 16, 2023
I hve known wade for many years He s competent and caring
Jun 10, 2023
Dr. Wade Smith is a truly superb physician!
Apr 14, 2023
Dr. Smith is wonderful - leads his field and so kind. I appreciate so much being his patient.
Mar 19, 2023
The care provider was incredibly professional while displaying empathy for the situation including everyone's input and listening. Amazed at his knowledge as well as his ability to understand the patient.
Jan 13, 2023
Excellent all around service
Aug 28, 2022
Dr. Smith asked a lot of questions asked me to perform various tasks and listened to my answers before providing a diagnosis.

Selected research

Decorative Caduceus

Sleep for Stroke Management and Recovery Trial

The primary outcome is a time-to-event outcome defined as a participant having at least one of the following events within 6-months from randomization: new ischemic stroke, acute coronary syndrome or all-cause mortality

Recruiting

Share