Finding a doctor who actually listens feels like winning the lottery these days. When you’re staring down a diagnosis like lung cancer or a complex breast malignancy, you don't just want a resume; you want a human being who knows the science but also knows how to talk to a person. Honestly, that’s where Frederick P Smith MD enters the picture. He’s a medical oncologist who has been practicing in the Washington, D.C. and Chevy Chase area for over five decades.
Think about that for a second. Fifty years.
He graduated from St. Louis University Medical School in 1973. To put that in perspective, the Nixon administration was still in full swing when he was starting out. Since then, he’s seen the entire landscape of oncology shift from blunt-force chemotherapy to the high-precision world of targeted biologics and immunotherapy. He isn’t just a witness to these changes; he’s been in the trenches of the research that made them happen.
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The Georgetown Connection and Clinical Roots
While many people know him as a staple of the Chevy Chase medical community, his academic foundation is rooted deeply in Georgetown University. He didn't just breeze through a fellowship there. He spent five years on the academic faculty at Georgetown’s Lombardi Cancer Research Center. That’s a big deal. Lombardi is one of those places where the "gold standard" of care is actually written.
During his time at Georgetown, Dr. Smith was an Associate Professor of Medicine. He wasn't just lecturing; he was running clinical trials. He’s authored or co-authored over 50—some sources say over 70—publications and abstracts. This is the "E" in E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness). When a doctor has contributed to the peer-reviewed literature on breast, colorectal, and lung cancers, they aren't just following a protocol. They understand why the protocol exists.
He even served as a primary liaison for a French-American collaborative research agreement. That’s a level of international scientific coordination you don’t see every day in private practice. It shows a guy who views medicine as a global conversation, not just a local job.
What Most People Get Wrong About Community Oncology
There’s this weird myth that if you want the best care, you have to stay inside a giant university hospital system forever. Dr. Smith is a living rebuttal to that. He’s a bridge. He transitioned from full-time academia to private practice, currently with Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA) and Maryland Oncology Hematology, but he kept his clinical appointment at Georgetown.
Why does this matter to you?
- Access to Trials: He’s known for helping patients in the local community get into appropriate clinical trials without them having to navigate the red tape of a massive institution alone.
- The "Red Ink" Problem: Dr. Smith has been vocal about the struggles of community oncology. In 2015, he spoke at a National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship roundtable about how the "red ink" of drug expenses and reimbursement delays makes it hard for independent doctors to offer state-of-the-art care.
- Personalized Pace: Patients frequently mention that his office doesn't feel like a factory. He’s known for a "quiet, confident" manner. No rushing. No staring at a laptop while you’re trying to talk about your life.
Why Patients Rank Him So High
If you look at his ratings—usually hovering around a 4.4 or higher across various platforms—the same words pop up: "compassionate," "thorough," and "respectful." It sounds like marketing fluff, but in the world of oncology, those are survival tools.
One patient noted that he spends "as much time as is needed" to explain both the medical and emotional sides of a decision. That's a rare commodity. Most doctors are incentivized to see a patient every 15 minutes. Dr. Smith seems to operate on a different clock.
He’s also uniquely accessible. He speaks Burmese, which is a massive asset in a diverse area like the D.C. metro region. It’s that extra layer of cultural competency that allows a doctor to connect with patients who might otherwise feel alienated by the U.S. healthcare system.
The Specialty Breakdown
What does he actually treat? While he’s a general medical oncologist and hematologist, his "high-volume" areas—the stuff he sees every single day—include:
- Breast Cancer: From initial lumps to metastatic disease.
- Lung Cancer: He actually received the LUNGevity "Face of Hope" award in 2020 for his work here.
- Gastrointestinal Cancers: Specifically colorectal and pancreatic malignancies.
- Hematology: Dealing with blood disorders and lymphomas.
He is affiliated with Sibley Memorial Hospital and Suburban Hospital. If you’re in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, or D.C. proper, those are the heavy hitters.
A Legacy of "Top Doctor" Honors
Peer recognition is usually a good "BS detector." Dr. Smith has been named a "Top Doctor" by Washingtonian Magazine for over 15 consecutive years. He’s also a Castle Connolly Top Doctor. Doctors are often the harshest critics of their colleagues, so when they repeatedly vote for someone for two decades, it’s worth paying attention.
But let’s be real: awards are great, but they don't treat your cancer. What treats the cancer is a physician who stays current. Even at age 79 (as of recent records), he is still active, still accepting new patients, and still doing telehealth. He hasn't checked out. He’s still "keenly in touch with the realities of patient care," as his colleagues put it.
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The Actionable Reality
If you or a family member are looking into Frederick P Smith MD for a consultation, here is what you actually need to do to make the most of it.
First, get your pathology reports and previous imaging (CTs, MRIs, PET scans) on a disc or in a digital portal. Don't assume the offices will "talk" to each other flawlessly; they rarely do.
Second, come with a list of "quality of life" questions. Because Dr. Smith has such a deep background in the natural history of malignancy, he’s the right person to ask about the trade-offs of different chemotherapy regimens. Ask him about the "why" behind a specific drug choice. He’s one of the few who will actually enjoy explaining the mechanism to you.
Finally, check your insurance. He’s known to accept a wide range—Aetna, CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealthCare—but with the way networks change in 2026, always call the Chevy Chase office at (301) 657-4588 to verify your specific plan.
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Next Steps for Patients:
- Verify Coverage: Call his office directly at the Chevy Chase location to confirm they are in-network for your specific 2026 plan.
- Request a "Consultation Only" if Unsure: You don't have to commit to a full treatment plan on day one. You can request a second opinion or a consultation to see if his "quiet, confident" style matches your needs.
- Prepare Your History: Use a patient portal to upload your history before your first visit to maximize your face-to-face time with him.