Suzanne R. Smith, NP

Patients Can Be Seen With a Referral From a UCLA GI Physician

Suzanne is a nurse practitioner with extensive experience in both clinical care and research focused on disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI). After many years as a critical care registered nurse, she earned her Master of Science in Nursing from UCLA in 2004.

Since 2005, Suzanne has been a key member of the UCLA G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, where she contributes to research on chronic pain and the gut-brain-microbiome axis. She also provides patient care at the Walter and Shirley Wang Center for Integrative Digestive Health, where she delivers evidence-based, integrative care in both individual and group settings. She played an integral role in the center’s development in 2018.

A certified mindfulness teacher through the International Mindfulness Teachers Association, Suzanne is trained in several evidence-based mindfulness modalities, including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), and mindfulness facilitation. She has led MBSR programs as part of brain imaging research studies exploring non-pharmacologic approaches to chronic pain.

In 2012, Suzanne completed UCLA’s Integrative Therapist Training Program, where she received instruction in yoga, breathwork, Reiki, and essential oil therapy. She has also studied the neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy of stress and well-being under Dr. Amit Sood at the Mayo Clinic and is trained in clinical hypnosis through the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis.

Suzanne’s background in patient care, research, and mindfulness fuels her passion for empowering patients with digestive disorders through lifestyle modification and skills-based approaches to improve quality of life.