Board of Councilor's Corner
Meet Dr. Alicia
By Nicole St.Pierre
When Dr. Alicia Smotherman joined the College Board of Councilors
nearly a year ago, she saw many parallels between her own career and
the research of College biologists.
In casual conversation, she calls herself a “a huge admirer of Norm and
Mike,” referring to Norman Arnheim and Michael Waterman. Arnheim
is the pioneering molecular biologist who helped develop the polymerase
chain reaction, PCR, a revolutionary method for studying genetics in a
single cell. Arnheim, a USC Distinguished Professor, is the Ester
Dornsife Chair in Biological Sciences. Waterman, a University Professor
and holder of the USC Associates Chair in Natural Sciences, is widely
recognized for his work pioneering mathematical and computational
approaches to molecular biology and human genetics.
“I love being surrounded by people who have original ideas,” Smotherman says.
Smotherman, too, is an original thinker—best known for her study and
treatment of hemochromatosis. This potentially fatal genetic disorder
causes the body to absorb and store too much iron. The extra iron
builds up in organs and damages them.
“Before the work of scientists like Mike and Norm, people had to have a
liver biopsy to see if they were carriers of the gene that may lead to
hemochromatosis,” she says. “Now we can just draw blood.”
After earning her medical degree from Oklahoma State University,
Smotherman teamed with husband Thad Alan Smotherman to launch a
successful health care business called The Neighborhood Doctor.
True to its name, the business has donated more than $5 million in
medical services while treating more than 70,000 patients without
charge.
Helping the sick comes natural to Smotherman, whose own family is distinguished by a long-line of doctors.
“We were treating people since the Civil War—when a sick person didn’t
have to make an appointment,” she says. “My husband and I still apply
that philosophy to our practice. We don’t take appointments. And
if you’re too sick to come by, we’ll come to you.”
The Smothermans also own several medical clinics and labs, a physical
therapy clinic and the Texas-based Arlington Medical Institute, where
more than 150 students are trained each year.
When she’s not treating patients, this Tennessee native can be found
whipping up spicy dishes in her kitchen. “Cooking is my favorite
pastime—which works out well, since I really like to feed people,” she
laughs.
Their house in Arlington, Texas, is a 14,000 square foot replica of
Hermitage, the home of Andrew Jackson. The ample house serves as
a venue for many philanthropic events—which Smotherman herself happily
caters. Their most recent black-tie gala benefited the Fort Worth
Women’s Center, a haven for abused women and children.
USC sports teams that pass through Texas are hard-pressed to leave town
without first stopping in for a home-cooked meal by “Dr. Alicia,” as
friends and family affectionately call her. She’s also been known to
throw dinner parties for the Dallas Cowboys.
Her most recent Trojan-fest: An official Texas send-off for 200 new USC freshman and their parents.
Her daughter Hillary graduated from USC in 2002 with a degree in
theatre. Turns out, Mom is no stranger to the stage either. Smotherman
began music studies at age 6; by her 13th birthday she was playing the
organ at the First Baptist Church in Selmer, Tennessee. She graduated
from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, with a bachelor of music
degree in organ performance.
After stints as a high school teacher of science, music and biology,
she enrolled at the University of Oklahoma, where she completed her
master’s degree in natural science before entering medical school.
So how does this accomplished woman like serving on the USC College Board of Councilors?
“It’s awesome and humbling,” she says, in a soft southern drawl that makes you want to stop in for dinner.
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