M^cSwain Charitable Trust – Trustee

Alison A. Smith was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. She attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, VA, and graduated summa cum laude with dual bachelor degrees in Chemistry and Biological Sciences in 2007. She was presented with Virginia Tech’s “Woman of the Year” award and further recognized for her leadership role in the Hokies United organization following the mass shootings on campus.  In 2010, Alison founded and served as the inaugural Executive Director for the non-profit organization, Sante Total, and remains an active board member. She has participated in multiple medical service trips to Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Kenya.  In addition, Dr. Smith served as an educator to train first responders in basic life support and trauma skills with Operation Smile in southeast Asia. In 2014, Alison completed the Physician Scientist Program at Tulane University receiving both medical and doctorate degrees. Her doctoral thesis on the use of stem cells to treat chronic wounds was under the mentorship of Dr. Charles Bellows in the Department of Surgery at Tulane University.  Alison graduated from General Surgery residency at Tulane University in 2019 and received recognition as the “Resident of the Year” from University Medical Center.  She completed her Surgical Critical Care fellowship at University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio in 2020. 

Dr. Smith is a Trauma/Critical Care surgeon at University Medical Center in New Orleans and an Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery at LSU Health Sciences Center. She is boarded in General Surgery and Critical Care Surgery.