From Med School to Bronson: The Smiths’ Shared Commitment to Exceptional Care

A Shared Journey in Medicine

For Eric Smith, DO, and Hye Rim Smith, DO, medicine is both a calling and a shared journey. Dr. Eric Smith is a critical care and pulmonary medicine specialist at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital. His wife, Dr. Hye Rim Smith, is a cardiologist with Bronson Advanced Cardiac Healthcare in Kalamazoo. Together, they care for patients across southwest Michigan while navigating the unique experience of building careers side by side.

Why They Chose Bronson

With deep family roots across Michigan, the Smiths were drawn to the west side of the state. As they began thinking about where they wanted to practice, conversations with friends already working at Bronson made a strong impression.

“It was clear early on that Bronson offered what we were looking for,” explains Dr. Eric Smith. “We are both drawn to the large community hospital style of medicine. We also appreciated the sense of autonomy available here and that the patient population is varied.”

Working Together, Caring Together

While they work in different specialties, their professional paths sometimes overlap. Patients are often amused to discover that their pulmonologist and cardiologist are married. The realization usually comes with smiles, laughter and the kind of easy humor that makes even doctor’s visits feel a little more personal.

“It never gets old,” Dr. Eric Smith shares. “Those moments remind us that medicine is still about human connection.”

Growing Their Expertise

Bronson has also given both physicians space to grow in ways that match their interests. Dr. Hye Rim Smith is active in cardiology and heart care services, while Dr. Eric Smith has focused on advancing lung nodule and lung cancer care, including the use of navigational bronchoscopy technology within pulmonary medicine.

Much of that work happens alongside providers from different specialties, all working toward the same goal of improving outcomes for patients.

That commitment to care hasn’t gone unnoticed. For the past three years, Dr. Eric Smith has ranked in the top 1% nationally for patient experience scores through Press Ganey. Both physicians also teach medical students at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine and work with residents through the WMed residency program.

A Culture of Excellence and Connection

What they value most comes back to people.

“This is the strongest group of physicians I’ve ever worked with,” says Dr. Eric Smith. “They’re smart, skilled and deeply committed to our patients. I don’t take that for granted for a second.”

He adds, “Our patients are kind, grateful and engaged. That combination makes this work incredibly meaningful.”

Dr. Smith also appreciates the positive approach that shapes daily life at Bronson.

“I take to heart the idea of Positivity. I feel like the philosophy will be a benefit to me for the rest of my career.”

As Bronson celebrates Healthcare Employee Week, Drs. Eric and Hye Rim Smith represent something simple and powerful: physicians who care deeply about their patients, support one another and find joy in the work they do together.

Health in Harmony in Action

The Smiths’ approach to care reflects Bronson’s Health in Harmony philosophy—an approach that recognizes health is about more than treating illness. It’s about working together, finding balance and caring for the whole person.

“Pharmaceutical medicine is incredibly important, and I’m grateful to practice it. It represents progress in science and humanity,” Dr. Eric Smith explains. “But to be truly healthy we need to incorporate healthy lifestyles with attention to diet, exercise and mental health. I find that all four of these aspects—pharmaceutical medicine, diet, exercise and mental health—are essential to being truly healthy.”

That perspective shapes how Doctors Eric and Hye Rim Smith care for patients every day, combining medical expertise with compassion, collaboration and a sense of balance that benefits patients and their loved ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

What specialties do Drs. Eric and Hye Rim Smith practice?

Dr. Eric Smith specializes in critical care and pulmonary medicine, while Dr. Hye Rim Smith is a cardiologist focused on heart and vascular care.

Where do the Smiths practice?

Dr. Eric Smith practices at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital, and Dr. Hye Rim Smith sees patients at Bronson Advanced Cardiac Healthcare in Kalamazoo.

What makes their approach to care unique?

Their approach focuses on whole-person care—combining medical treatment with attention to lifestyle factors like diet, exercise and mental health.

Do the Smiths work together professionally?

While they practice in different specialties, their work occasionally overlaps, and they collaborate within the broader Bronson care team to support patient outcomes.

Are they involved in teaching or training future physicians?

Yes. Both physicians teach medical students and work with residents through Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine.