MB ChB Liv 1968; FFA RCS Eng 1972.
Smith was born in Leyland, Lancashire, on 29 July 1945. He studied medicine at Liverpool University, qualifying in 1968. From 1971, Smith worked as a registrar in anaesthetics, at Preston and Chorley Group Hospitals, the University Hospital of South Manchester, Wythenshaw and North Cheshire Group, and in 1973 was appointed senior registrar in anaesthetics at United Manchester Hospitals. Smith was later appointed consultant anaesthetist to MRI. He was also honorary associate lecturer in anaesthetics at the University of Manchester. Smith was a member of Manchester Medical Society and the Association of Anaesthetists.