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Photo of  Douglas R. Smucker, MD

Douglas R. Smucker, MD

Professor-Emeritus

Director, Hospice and Palliative Medicine

Family & Community Medicine | College of Medicine

Education/Credentials
  • Faculty Scholar: Harvard University (Palliative and End-of-Life Care Program)
  • : Kings College and St. Christopher's Hospital (Palliative Care)
  • Fellowship: University of North Carolina (Primary Care Research )
  • Residency : University of North Carolina (Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology )
  • Master's Degree: University of North Carolina (Palliative care, Preventative Medicine)
  • Fellowship: Michigan State University (Faculty Development )
  • Residency: University of Toledo College of Medicine (Family Practice )
  • Doctoral Degree: University of Toledo College of Medicine
  • Bachelor's Degree: Goshen College
Contact Information

Peer Reviewed Publications

Smucker, Douglas R; Regan, Saundra; Elder, Nancy C; Gerrety, Erica 2014. Patient safety incidents in home hospice care: the experiences of hospice interdisciplinary team members. Journal of palliative medicine, 17 5, 540-4

Smucker DR, Regan S, Elder NE, Gerrety E 2013. Patient safety incidents in home hospice care: The experiences of hospice interdisciplinary team members Journal of Palliative Medicine, ,

Smucker DR 2012. Ending hand feeding of patients with advanced cognitive decline: What is "doing the right thing" (commentary on article "Doing the Right Thing" by Karl Singer, MD and Patrick Cleary, MD) Annals of Long-Term Care, 20(6):41-2 ,

Diers T, Montauk SL, Vaughn LM, Lehmann C, Kiesler J, Schubert CJ, Smucker D, Volck B 2009. Competencies for the adaptable physician: Training residents to care for vulnerable populations The Open Medical Education Journal, 2:26-25 ,

Ludke RL, Smucker DR 2007. Racial differences in the willingness to use hospice services Journal of Palliative Medicine, 10 6, 1329-37

Curlin FA, Serrano KD, Baker MG, Carricaburu SL, Smucker DR, Chin MH 2006. Following the call: how providers make sense of their decisions to work in faith-based and secular urban community health centers Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 17 4, 944-57

Elder N, Smucker DR 2006. Back and neck pain FP Essentials, Edition No. 322, AAFP Home Study (a peer reviewed monograph) , Leawood, KS: American Academy of Family Physicians , MAR 2006

Gee L, Smucker DR, Chin MH, Curlin FA 2005. Partnering together? Relationships between faith-based community health centers and neighborhood congregations Southern Medical Journal, 98 12, 1245-50

Smucker DR 2004. Hospice and the continuum of primary care Clinics in Family Practice, 6:299-323 ,

Bazemore AW, Smucker DR 2003. Lymphadenopathy and malignancy American Family Physician, 66 11, 2103-10

Diller PM, Smucker DR 2001. Management of heart failure due to diastolic dysfunction Clinics in Family Practice, 30:857-81 ,

Smucker DR, Zink T, Susman JL, Crabtree BF 2001. A framework for understanding visits by frequent attenders in family practice The Journal of Family Practice, 50 10, 847-52

Diller PM, Smucker DR 2000. Management of heart failure Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice, 27 3, 651-75

Hobart JA, Smucker DR 2000. The female athlete triad American Family Physician, 61:3357-3364 ,

Diller PM, Smucker DR, David B 1999. Co-management of patients with congestive heart failure by family physicians and cardiologists: frequency, timing, and patient characteristics The Journal of Family Practice, 48 3, 188-95

Diller PM, Smucker DR, David B, Graham RJ 1999. Congestive heart failure due to diastolic or systolic dysfunction. Frequency and patient characteristics in an ambulatory setting Archives of Family Medicine, 8 5, 414-20

Smucker DR, Konrad TR, Curtis P, Carey TS 1998. Practitioner self-confidence and patient outcomes in acute low back pain Archives of Family Medicine, 7 3, 223-8

Steiner BD, Reid A, Smucker DR 1996. Developments on the Internet: a practical guide for primary care physicians Family Medicine, 28 2, 128-33

Carey TS, Garrett J, Jackman A, McLaughlin C, Fryer J, Smucker DR 1995. The outcomes and costs of care for acute low back pain among patients seen by primary care practitioners, chiropractors, and orthopedic surgeons. The North Carolina Back Pain Project The New England Journal of Medicine, 333 14, 913-7

Smucker DR, Thomas JC 1995. Evidence of thorough reporting of sexually transmitted diseases in a southern rural county Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 22 3, 149-54

Edinger W, Smucker DR 1992. Outpatients' attitudes regarding advance directives The Journal of Family Practice, 35 6, 650-3

Smucker DR 1991. Epstein-Barr virus The Journal of Family Practice, 32 5, 456

Smucker DR, Mayhew HE, Nordlund DJ, Hahn WK, Palmer KE 1991. Post-vasectomy semen analysis: why patients don't follow-up The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice , 4 1, 5-9

Smucker DR 1990. Rural obstetric care and the family physician New York State Journal of Medicine, 90 11, 533-5

Smucker DR, Zilkoski MW, Jhunjhunwala J 1989. Dysfunctions of micturition in the male Primary Care, 16 4, 941-66

Zilkoski MW, Smucker DR 1989. Urinary tract infections in the elderly American Family Physician, 39 5, 125-34

Smucker DR 1988. Obstetrics in family practice in the state of Ohio The Journal of Family Practice, 26 2, 165-8

Smucker DR, Burket MW 1988. Thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction American Family Physician, 37 5, 265-74

Zilkoski MW, Smucker DR, Mayhew,HE 1988. Urinary tract infections in elderly patients Postgraduate medicine, 84 3, 191-4, 197-8, 201-6

Smucker DR, Zilkoski M, Mayhew HE 1986. The homeless Ohio Family Physician News, Nov, 1986 pp. 20-21 ,

Abstract Publications

Hester J, Bailey-Pridham R, Smucker DR 2012. The effect of an inpatient palliative care service on the incidence and survival outcomes of urgent resuscitation attempts for hospitalized patients Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 43(2): 462 ,


Smucker DR, Hester J 2012. "Where have you been all my life?" Senior resident physicians' responses to a new palliative care consult service Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 43(2): 462 ,


Smucker DR, Regan S 2012. Patient safety incidents in home hospice care: A qualitative study of interdisciplinary hospice team members Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 43(2): 460 ,


Smucker DR, Warm E, Hobart J 2002. Setting the tone at square one: an internal medicine/family medicine collaboration to teach communication skills to interns Journal of Palliative Medicine, 5:600 ,