Randolph D Smoak Jr. M.D.

Randolph D. Smoak, Jr., MD, a board-certified surgeon from Orangeburg, South Carolina, served as the 155th president of the American Medical Association from 2000 to 2001. As one of America’s most influential voices in medicine, Dr. Smoak dedicated his year-long presidency to the issues of women as medical decision makers in health care, the role of American medicine in the global community and the AMA’s continuing role in health system reform. Dr. Smoak has served as a member of the AMA Board of Trustees since 1992.

An acknowledged leader and passionate spokesperson in the AMA’s campaign against tobacco, Dr. Smoak represents the AMA on the Department of Health and Human Services Interagency Committee on Smoking and Health. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.

Dr. Smoak’s dedication to medicine has been evident through his years of service on the state, national and international levels. He served on the US Delegation to the World Health Organization’s World Health Assembly and was elected Chair of Council of the World Medical Association in May 2001.

Dr. Smoak’s commitment to quality of care is reflected in his service on the board of directors of the National Forum on Health Care Quality Measurement and Reporting and as a commissioner to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). He has represented the AMA on the National Health Council. A diplomat of the American Board of Surgery and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Smoak served as governor of the College for two terms.

Dr. Smoak was elected to the South Carolina Medical Association (SCMA) Board of Trustees in 1972 and held numerous leadership positions including President and Chair. He served as both an alternate and delegate to the AMA House of Delegates from 1983-1992. A member of the American Medical Association Political Action Committee Board since 1984, he served as Chair in 1988.

A native of Bamberg, SC, Dr. Smoak received his M.D. from the Medical University of South Carolina where he also completed his surgical residency training.

After completing his internship at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and his senior surgery oncology fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, he returned to his home state to establish a surgical practice.

A committed leader in his community, Dr. Smoak led his successful surgical practice in Orangeburg, SC for over 30 years.

He is an emeritus clinical professor of surgery at MUSC and USC School of Medicine. Dr. Smoak served as a member of the MUSC Foundation Board of Directors, the Hollings Cancer Center Advisory Board, the Board of Visitors and was the MUSC College of Medicine Distinguished Alumnus in 1999. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Curtis P. Artz MUSC Surgical Society. In 2000, Governor James Hodges presented Dr. Smoak with the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor in the State of South Carolina.

Dr. Smoak and his wife Saundra reside in Orangeburg, SC and have four married daughters.