Board-Certified Expertise and Training
Dale B. Smith, D.O. is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. He trained with several well-known Head and Neck surgeons, including Dr. Al Novak at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle. During his residency at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington, Dr. Smith conducted original bench and animal research involving nerve monitoring during neck surgery. This research led to his development of an FDA-approved device for monitoring and protecting the recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery. This device, the first of its kind in the world, underwent human testing under Dr. Smith’s supervision in several medical institutions. A patented device using some of this technology is now used by Dr. Smith during thyroid and parathyroid surgery here in Lawton.
Military Service and Leadership in Desert Shield/Storm
Dr. Smith served as the first and only Head and Neck surgeon deployed with U.S. forces during the early months of Desert Shield/Storm. He commanded a hospital unit with the 47th Field Hospital, departing from Fort Sill within a few weeks of the invasion of Kuwait in 1990. During his deployment, Dr. Smith performed hundreds of head and neck procedures for U.S. and allied soldiers. While stationed on the island nation of Bahrain, he operated in the Bahraini Defense Hospital at the request of Bahraini military leaders. Dr. Smith had the honor of treating members of the ruling royal family of Bahrain and performing surgery on the personal staff of General Norman Schwarzkopf. His military service provided valuable insights and perspective, which he applies when treating private civilian patients today.
Comprehensive Head and Neck Cancer Care
Dr. Smith maintains a very active head and neck cancer practice. He supports a team approach to treating this potentially deadly disease, serving as a surgeon consultant with medical oncologists and radiation physicians at area cancer centers. Dr. Smith emphasizes that prompt and accurate diagnosis is critical for early treatment and achieving the best survival outcomes in head and neck cancer.
After the initial treatment, patients are enrolled in a tumor surveillance program at the Institute to closely monitor for any evidence of tumor recurrence. Dr. Smith was the first in Oklahoma and remains the only surgeon in the region to utilize the state-of-the-art office exam known as transnasal esophagoscopy (TNE) for monitoring head and neck cancer. Similar to the upper scope (EGD) used by gastroenterologists, the TNE allows screening exams of the esophagus in the office without the need for IV sedation or hospitalization. This exam is a critical periodic screening tool for head and neck cancer patients, as the esophagus is one of the most common areas for recurrent cancer to develop.
Thyroid Surgery Expertise
Thyroid surgery is another area where Dr. Smith has special expertise. In addition to developing a device for monitoring the nerves that control the vocal cords during thyroid surgery, Dr. Smith also utilizes immediate testing of parathyroid hormone levels to protect against injury to the parathyroid glands. This practice has significantly reduced the rate of injury to the vocal cord nerves (recurrent laryngeal nerves) and parathyroid glands to far below the national average for thyroid surgery. These excellent results have led many doctors and patients to refer others to the Institute for thyroid care.
Services Provided
- Head and Neck Cancer Surgery
- Head and Neck Cancer Follow Up and Monitoring Program
- Thyroid Diseases and Surgery
- Parathyroid Surgery
- Evaluation and Surgery of Neck Masses
- Parotid and Submandibular Gland Surgery