Dr. Chris Smyre

Physician, Author

Dr. Christopher Smyre is a family medicine physician at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine with a dual appointment to the Department of Clinical Family and Community Medicine and the Department of Medical Humanities. He completed his residency training at one of the original Teaching Health Centers, McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University Family Medicine Residency Program-Humboldt Park. At SIU he provides full spectrum care and his clinical interests are underserved medicine, mental health, group visits, and taking care of families. Dr. Smyre is passionate about educating and equipping medical students and residents to become excellent clinicians who are patient centered, culturally responsive, and evidenced based in their approach to the care they provide. Dr. Smyre has a master’s from the University of Chicago Divinity School focused on theological ethics and does research on healthcare disparities, medical ethics, and medical education. Dr. Smyre has published articles on the physicians’ role in addressing spiritual suffering and providing spiritual care at the end of life, and wrote a book chapter on how chaplains are able to assist in negotiating cultural and religious differences that arise in the medical decision making process. Dr. Smyre is currently working to establish an outpatient ethics consult service and is committed to empowering and equipping patients to have ownership of their health and successfully utilize the healthcare system.

TOPICS: Health, Religion