Alathea Smith

Alathea Smith is a Physician Assistant at VSI focused on helping patients feel informed, supported, and confident throughout their care and recovery. Working closely with VSI’s spine specialists, she helps patients understand what to expect as they move from consultation and treatment toward getting back to the life they enjoy.

Before becoming a Physician Assistant, Alathea built a strong foundation in emergency and critical care. She spent nearly three years as an Emergency Medical Technician at Inova Fairfax Hospital’s Level I trauma and stroke center, where she cared for patients experiencing complex and time-sensitive medical emergencies. That experience included exposure to traumatic spine, orthopedic, and neurologic conditions and taught her the importance of staying composed, communicating clearly, and working collaboratively when patients need support most.

Alathea was drawn to caring for patients through her early experience as an EMT, where she discovered how much she valued being part of a collaborative care team. At VSI, she is especially excited by the opportunity to build long-term relationships with patients across outpatient, surgical, and postoperative care. For Alathea, recovery is more than what happens after a procedure. It is an ongoing process of helping patients feel prepared for each next step and supported as they work toward returning to the activities and routines that matter to them.

Outside of VSI, Alathea enjoys crafting, reading, traveling, and going on walks with her dog, Sierra. Alathea understands that choosing a care team is an important step in a patient’s recovery journey. She is grateful for the trust patients place in VSI and looks forward to building meaningful relationships with patients as they regain confidence and mobility.