J. Joshua Smith
Papers
10
Total Citations
215
H-Index
6
About
J. Joshua Smith is a leading colorectal surgeon and researcher whose work centers on advancing minimally invasive surgical techniques for colon and rectal cancer, with a particular focus on robotic surgery. His major contributions include demonstrating that intracorporeal anastomosis in right colectomies reduces incisional hernias and shortens hospital stays (68 citations), and showing that robotic approaches yield higher lymph node counts—a key predictor of survival—compared to open or laparoscopic methods (61 citations). His research has systematically compared robotic, laparoscopic, and open resections for both colon and rectal cancers, consistently highlighting the robotic platform’s advantages in lymph node yield, mesenteric radicality, and pelvic dissection. With over 200 total citations across his top papers, Smith’s work has helped shift the conversation from oncological equivalence to potential superiority of robotic surgery for rectal cancer, as reflected in his 2025 paper. He has also explored predictors of operative difficulty in robotic low anterior resection, providing practical guidance for surgeons. His studies on outcomes in elderly patients underscore his commitment to broadening the benefits of minimally invasive surgery across diverse populations.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8Options for Low Rectal Cancer: Robotic Total Mesorectal Excision3 citations · 2021
- 9
- 10Colon cancer: is the robot a better option?2 citations · 2023