Fri, 10/06/2023 - 12:55
By Debra J. Stultz, MD, FCTMSS
It saddens me to report the passing of one of our beloved members of the Clinical TMS Society. Brian Smith, MD has been a member of the Clinical TMS Society since February 2017. He was an active member of the society, serving on the Board of Directors, Education Committee, Membership Committee, and as PULSES faculty. He presented a 2021 Grand Rounds Webinar lecture entitled “TMS – Localization, Connectivity and Mechanisms: A Neurologist’s Perspective.” He attended his first PULSES course in San Francisco in March 2019, after which Michelle Cochran, MD asked him to give a lecture about seizures. Brian, according to Dr. Cochran, “knocked it out of the park” with the lecture he created and his subsequent presentations. He served as PULSES faculty in London in 2019 and taught in Las Vegas in 2020, West Palm Beach in 2021, Nashville in 2021, and again in Las Vegas in 2022. He then passed his seizure lecture down to me and Dr. Nicholas Mischel. His framework for this lecture continues today in our current PULSES course presentations.
Brian and I became instant friends after meeting at a PULSES course, both having a love of sleep medicine and TMS. In one of our e-mails, after he retired from medicine , he wrote, “Trying to figure out my next phase. Just finished ski season, reading novels, coffee with friends, and working on my bass-playing skills. Miss all of you! Feels strange leaving medicine and what it all means, but I felt I needed to take the leap.” I am so thankful he took the leap, enjoyed life, and explored many adventures before he passed.
His sudden and untimely passing brought about many comments and memories from other society members that I would like to share.
“His smile and laugh were infectious. He will truly be missed, and just a reminder for me
how short life is.”Kim Cress, MD, FCTMSS
“I am grateful to have known Brian and to have had the chance to spend time with him,
laughing and learning.”Michelle Cochran, MD, DLFAPA, FCTMSS
“Brian was a sweet man, and especially so with my son Henry during our PULSES in London in 2019, showing a genuine interest in this young kid. I will remember that.”
Todd Hutton, MD, DLFAPA, FCTMSS
“Brian was indeed a lovely soul who gave happiness and laughter to those around him, including our PULSES audiences, who learned so much from him with such ease.”
Linda Carpenter, MD, FCTMSS
“He was sweet, kind, generous, funny, smart, genuine, and down to earth. I will miss him.”
Rick Pitch, MD
“He was such a nice, warm person and had a witty sense of humor”
Mohamed Abdelghani, MBBCh, MSc, FRCPsych, FCTMSS
“I am so sad that we will not be able to experience his wit and good humor any longer.” “We often fly through our lives from one meeting or event to another, and it is these sad moments that crystallize the poignancy of the important collegial relationships we have formed through the Society.”
Randy Pardell, MD, DLFAPA, FCTMSS
“Brian was such a funny, warm, and caring man. I wish that I had told him that before we lost him.”
Susan Kerns, MBBS, FCTMSS
These tributes are a reminder to all of us…Life is short. Our friends are priceless. Take the leap and tell the ones you love and admire how you feel about them!
Thanks for the memories, lessons, and laughter, Brian!
Brian Smith Obituary
Brian William Smith, age 68, of Northampton, passed away unexpectedly in Edgartown, Massachusetts, on Friday, September 8, 2023. Brian was born in Leominster, MA on March 14, 1955, the son of the late Edward W. and Claire R. (Cormier) Smith. He was raised in the Leominster area. Dr. Smith was board-certified in neurology, sleep medicine, and vascular neurology. He received his medical degree from Albany Medical College. He completed his medical internship at Roger Williams Medical Center and his neurology training at Dartmouth Medical Center. Prior to opening Sleep Medicine Services of Western Massachusetts, he was a staff neurologist at Baystate Medical Center with a Faculty appointment at Tufts University School of Medicine. In 2017, he became one of the founding partners of Achieve TMS East in Massachusetts and served as the Chief Medical Officer for Achieve TMS East & Central. He was actively involved in the Clinical TMS Society and served on the board of directors in addition to the education and membership committees. In addition to being named “Best Doctors in America,” he also had a deep love of music art and was an avid skier. He could often be found on Martha’s Vineyard enjoying life and playing music.
Brian is survived by his brother, Gary E. Woodward-Smith; his nephew, Ian Woodward-Smith; his niece, Erin Blalock; and is grieved by family and many close friends. He was genuine, generous, funny, outgoing, witty, articulate, insightful, and thoughtful. He loved people and helped them, without fanfare, in countless ways. Brian was a lifelong learner with a deep foundation of medical knowledge. His untraditional path to medicine, compassion, and outgoing nature shaped him to be a well-rounded and deeply humble individual. Throughout his life, he took special care of others by making countless trips to visit family, looking after his aunt and uncle, and spending time with his friend/mentor, Julian Janowitz. In time, he became that special combination of family, friend, and mentor to so many people. His loss leaves us grateful for his companionship. We are heartbroken that we will not get to see him continue his journey. His laughter was infectious, his journey was unique, and his loss is profound.