Joshua Smith, MD

Joshua Smith, MD is a WashU Medicine pediatrician at Brentwood Pediatrics.

Dr. Smith sees patients at:

Center 40 Building
1600 South Brentwood Boulevard
Suite: 100
Brentwood, MO 63144

For appointments: 314-918-8827

What made you want to become a pediatrician?

I enrolled in medical school because a career in medicine seemed to fit my interests. Learning about science and having the opportunity to have a career in service of others resonated with me. I found all my rotations in med school interesting, but the one experience that was the most joyful was pediatrics. Deciding on a medical specialty and going through the training are difficult things, but I think this was the best choice for me.

What do you enjoy most about caring for children and families over many years?

I really enjoy the relationships I get to make, first of all with parents. Having a newborn to care for can be truly terrifying and I love that I get to help parents through this in some way. We build trust by working together and making sure things are OK. Then, the parents and I get to watch their child grow and change together. Of course, seeing a three-year-old come in and identifying me as “their doctor” when I have seen them go through these changes I feel is truly a privilege.

What do you tell first-time parents about worrying during a baby’s first year?

Being a parent is challenging. We worry all the time if our children are OK and if we are doing everything right. A large portion of my role as a pediatrician is helping parents recognize that feeling this way is normal and that perfect parenting is not a goal that needs to be sought. Our kids need our time and attention the most.

What are some common struggles children face during school years and how do you help with those?

As a pediatrician, I like to take a collaborative approach with educators to help support patients and parents. Our area schools deserve great respect. There are so many services available for all children, including those that learn differently. My approach is to help children and parents advocate for themselves, because those services are there and their schools and teachers want them to succeed. 

What is one piece of parenting advice you find yourself giving often?

What I don’t say is, “Relax and enjoy,” because they grow up before you know it. When my children were young, people would say this to me and I noticed that I would experience anxiety about not feeling this way all the time. So, my advice is to be kind to yourself and don’t let perfectionism get in the way of being a great parent. We are here to learn and live life with our kids and that includes showing them how to handle failure and difficulties.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Outside of work I spend a lot of time with my family. My wife Karen and I have two older teens. I’m kind of a standard dad, always looking to drop a dad joke to see what kind of eye roll I get. My wife and I love to travel and have many places that we want to experience together now that our kids are older. I try to exercise most days to stay healthy, and it is great for stress relief and sleep.