Melanie H. Smith, MD, PhD

Rheumatologist

212.224.7960

HSS - Belaire Building 525 East 71st Street, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10021
Tel: 212.224.7960
Fax: 917.260.3760

About Dr. Smith

Dr. Melanie Smith is an Attending Physician in the Division of Rheumatology at HSS and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and specializes in the treatment of patients with inflammatory arthritis. She is the Director of the Inflammatory Arthritis Center at HSS. Her research focuses on how cells normally found in the joint lining react to and regulate the influx of immune cells seen in inflammatory arthritis. Her goal is to improve our understanding of synovial biology to identify novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis.

Profile Video

Special Expertise

Inflammatory arthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, spondyloarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome and gout/pseudogout)
Erosive hand osteoarthritis

Procedures

Joint aspiration and injection

Insurance

Aetna
BCBS Anthem Gatekeeper Individual Network
BCBS Federal
BCBS Anthem of NY (formerly Empire)
BCBS Horizon (excluding OMNIA)
Cigna
Connecticare (not through Access Health CT)
EmblemHealth GHI
EmblemHealth HIP
EmblemHealth Medicare
EmblemHealth Select Care
The Empire Plan / NYSHIP
Medicare Part B
Oxford
UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare Compass
UnitedHealthcare Medicare HMO
UnitedHealthcare Medicare PPO

If your insurance is not listed, please call our office if you have questions regarding your insurance coverage. If you have out-of-network benefits, then your insurance may reimburse you for a portion of your office visit. We will work with you and your insurance to minimize your out-of-pocket costs. Financial assistance may be available for patients in need.

Credentials

Appointments

Director, Inflammatory Arthritis Center, Hospital for Special Surgery
Attending Physician, Hospital for Special Surgery
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College

Affiliations

American College of Rheumatology, Member

Certifications

American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine, 2019
American Board of Internal Medicine, Rheumatology, 2021

Education

Medical:University of California, San Francisco, 2016
Internship:NewYork-Presbyterian - Weill Cornell Medical Center, 2017
Residency:NewYork-Presbyterian - Weill Cornell Medical Center, 2018
Fellowship:Hospital for Special Surgery, 2022

State Licensure

New York

Languages

English

For My Patients

Publications by Dr. Smith

Patient Education

Selected Journal Articles

For all publications, please see the PubMed listing

Research

Dr. Smith conducts basic science and translational research in inflammatory arthritis with a focus on rheumatoid arthritis. She studies how cells that make up the healthy joint lining change with rheumatoid arthritis in order to identify novel therapeutic targets.

Clinical Trials / Research Studies

Industry Relationships

HSS has a long history of supporting appropriate relationships with industry because they advance HSS's mission to provide the highest quality patient care, improve patient mobility, and enhance the quality of life for all, and to advance the science of orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, and their related disciplines through research and education.

As of May 11, 2024, Dr. Smith reported no relationships with the healthcare industry.

HSS and its physicians make this information available to patients and the public, thus creating a transparent environment for those who are interested in this information. Further, the HSS Conflicts of Interest and Commitment Policy prohibits physicians from collecting royalties on products they develop that are used on patients at HSS.