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Michael Joseph Smith

Professor of Pediatrics
Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases

Overview


I am the division chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Duke.  My clinical and research efforts focus on the prevention and treatment of infections in children.   My specific areas of interest are pediatric antimicrobial stewardship and vaccine safety.  I am currently Duke PI for a PCORI-funded project assessing outpatient antibiotic use for respiratory tract infections in children at Duke University Health System and serve as Co-Director of the Duke Vaccine and Trials Unit.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor of Pediatrics · 2021 - Present Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases, Pediatrics
Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases · 2022 - Present Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases, Pediatrics
Member of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute · 2021 - Present Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Institutes and Centers

Recent Publications


Preventing Post-Vaccination Presyncope and Syncope in Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Clinic-Based Intervention.

Journal Article J Pediatr · February 13, 2026 OBJECTIVE: To study the impact of a combined intervention using Buzzy® plus simultaneous distraction (playing video games on a tablet) on the incidence of post-vaccination presyncope and syncope. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a randomized-controlled trial of ... Full text Link to item Cite

Using Encounter-Level Data for Risk-Adjustment of Antimicrobial Use Comparisons: Feasibility and Variable Selection.

Journal Article Clin Infect Dis · December 15, 2025 BACKGROUND: External comparisons of hospital antimicrobial use (AU), risk-adjusted using encounter characteristics, may better inform antimicrobial stewardship program strategy. Barriers to encounter-level modeling include feasibility of data collection an ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


CISA 2023 Clinical Contributing Task 1

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · 2023 - 2028

CISA 2023 Clinical Contributing Task 2

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · 2023 - 2028

Clinical and host microbiome features in the development of acute otitis media

ResearchAdvisor · Awarded by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2023 - 2028

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Education, Training & Certifications


University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine · 2008 M.S.
Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons · 2001 M.D.