Texas Work Comp Commissioner Names New Medical Advisor

Texas Commissioner of Workers’ Compensation Albert Betts recently named Howard L. Smith, M.D., as medical advisor for the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), Division of Workers’ Compensation (Division).

Dr. Smith has been a practicing physician since 1985, specializing in brain and spinal surgery. He has served as a designated doctor in the Texas workers’ compensation system since 2005 and previously was certified as an independent medical examiner. Dr. Smith also has been a practicing attorney since 2002.

As medical advisor for the Division, Dr. Smith will review complaints on quality of care received through the TDI Complaint Resolution and Customer Services section and serve as chair of the Medical Quality Review Panel (MQRP).
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He graduated from the Oklahoma College of Medicine in 1985 and holds a Diplomate from the American Board of Neurological Surgeons. He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Loyola School of Law in 2002.

Dr. Smith is a former resident of Ocean Springs, Miss., and relocated to San Antonio soon after Hurricane Katrina in September 2005.

Source: Texas DWC