Dr. Smith completed her DVM with honors at Texas A&M in May 1994.

After her internship at the University of Illinois, she joined Auburn University's residency program in 1995. She was certified in both Small Animal Internal Medicine and Oncology in May 2000. While pursuing her residency training, she completed a Master's degree in Biomedical Sciences in 2001.

She served on the Auburn University faculty from 1999 to 2019, retiring as the Robert & Charlotte Lowder Distinguished Professor in Oncology. She taught over 3,000 students at various campuses about oncology, and trained 15 residents. She was active in research and publication, with over 50 peer-reviewed articles and 11 book chapters.

Her practice approach is to find the optimal treatment plan for each family to manage their pet's cancer, with the primary focus being the best possible quality of life.