Assistant Professor Sarah Smith, MD, FAAPMR, has been named a 2026 Innovator & Influencer by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R).
A physiatrist at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Dr. Smith helps lead care through the Northwest Institute for Nerve Injury at UW Medicine. The clinic brings together plastic surgery, rehabilitation medicine, hand therapy, and rehabilitation psychology to care for patients with peripheral nerve conditions across the WWAMI region, including Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho.
Dr. Smith specializes in neuromuscular medicine and nerve ultrasound. Her training allows her to perform detailed electrodiagnostic and sonographic evaluations that help identify nerve injuries early in recovery. This approach supports timely referrals and helps care teams assess the potential for spontaneous recovery or the need for surgery.
In collaboration with plastic surgeon Dr. Katie Liu, Dr. Smith has helped develop a multidisciplinary model that supports patients across the full continuum of care—from diagnosis to surgery to rehabilitation. The clinic treats a range of conditions, including compressive nerve injuries, neuromas after limb amputation, and other nontraumatic nerve and plexus injuries.
The Innovators & Influencers recognition highlights leaders who are shaping the future of physiatry through clinical care, research, and new models of practice.