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Orthopedic Spine Surgeon
Medical Director, Spine + Joint Institute
Facilities: Bozeman Health Neurosurgery and Spine Clinic
Organizations: Neurosurgery
Phone: 406-414-5930
Fax: 406-414-5939
Address:
931 Highland Blvd., Suite 3350, Bozeman, MT 59715
3rd Floor, Purple Zone, Parking Lot C & H, Entrance 3
Memberships/ Academic Appointments:
Medical Director – Spine + Joint Institute, Orthopedic Chair with the Surgery Executive Committee at Bozeman Health, Orthopedic Chair with the Trauma Committee at Bozeman Health
Languages:
English
Special Practice Interests:
He is a member of an international design team for advancements in spinal implants, patient positioning research and neuromonitoring improvements.
Biographical Information:
Ben Smith, DO, is a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon who serves as medical director of the Spine + Joint Institute at Bozeman Health. He brings more than a decade of advanced training and clinical experience in minimally invasive spine surgery, spinal deformity correction and complex revision procedures. A longtime Montana resident, Dr. Smith earned his bachelor’s degree with honors in health promotion from Montana State University, where he played football for the Bobcats. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, then completed his orthopedic residency at Riverside County Regional Medical Center in California. He went on to pursue an adult orthopedic spine fellowship at Duke University Medical Center, training with nationally recognized leaders in spine surgery.
Dr. Smith has practiced in Bozeman since 2016 and is known for bringing innovative spine surgery techniques to southwest Montana. His clinical focus includes minimally invasive fusion and non-fusion procedures, microdiscectomies, complex spinal deformity surgery and revision spine care. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Smith is actively involved in advancing the field of spine surgery. He collaborates with international design teams on spinal implant development, patient positioning systems and neuromonitoring technology, and has published and presented research on scoliosis, spinal balance and spine-related injury patterns.
Dr. Smith is deeply committed to team-based care. As medical director of the Spine + Joint Institute, he helps lead interdisciplinary quality, safety and surgical initiatives and works closely with surgeons, nurses, therapists and support staff to deliver coordinated, patient-centered care.
Outside of work, Dr. Smith enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, cooking and making the most of Montana’s outdoors through hunting, fishing, hiking and snowboarding.
Philosophy of Care:
“I believe the best outcomes come from teamwork, trust and clear communication. My role is to understand where a patient’s pain is coming from, explain their options honestly and work closely with the entire care team to create a thoughtful plan. Spine surgery is complex, and patients deserve to feel informed, supported and confident throughout the process.”
Your journey to recovery begins at Bozeman Health Spine + Joint Institute (SJI) with one of our local orthopedic partners. To request an appointment, simply click the button below and you will be contacted to schedule your next steps. If you are inquiring about spine surgery, you will need to have your primary care provider make a referral to Dr. Ben Smith with Bridger Orthopedic. Spine surgery appointments are not available through the request portal at this time.