Carla Browning Smith, DO

Carla Smith, D.O., FACOP, FAAP, decided she wanted to become a doctor when she was in the 6th grade. But it was after working with several pediatricians during medical school that she knew she wanted to be a pediatrician. And after 38 years of pediatric practice, she says, "each patient, each family continues to find a special place in my heart. And in no other specialty is it such a fun requirement to be up to date on the latest superheroes and superheroines."

Dr. Smith enjoys caring for kids because they are always happy, joyful, eager and when they are ill, they always want to get well. She also works to build relationships with patient families because she feels that raising healthy children is a team effort.

"In medicine, especially pediatrics, you have to have empathy and see each child as an individual. In pediatrics, you can't be a know-it-all, you can learn from the kids, parents, grandparents ... listening is critical to providing great care and the best possible outcomes."

Dr. Smith graduated from the University of North Texas Health Science Center and then traveled to Michigan for her pediatric residency. This was completed at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in East Lansing, Michigan. She was then in private practice before she and her family moved back to warmer weather in Burleson, Texas.

She has been practicing pediatrics at Cook Children's Burleson primary care office since it opened in 2010.

"It's such an honor to work with the children and families in the community where I live, and have raised my own children."

Dr. Smith and her family have been, and continue to be active in the Burleson community in everything from school sports, to the Johnson County 4-H, Children's Advocacy Center, CASA and the Burleson Opportunity Fund and much more.

She lives with her husband on their farm where they raise cattle and have horses. Her most enjoyable activities are spending time with her daughters, sons-in-law and her 2 grandchildren. When time allows, she enjoys traveling to Michigan to visit with friends and playing along the shores of Lake Michigan.