Southern Medical Association Installs Dr. David T. Netscher as President for 2025-2026
The Southern Medical Association (SMA) is pleased to announce the installation of David T. Netscher, MD, as President for the term 2025-2026. Dr. Netscher was installed on November 15, 2025, during SMA’s 117th Annual Scientific Assembly held in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Dr. Netscher, an academician with a life-long career at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, has served as Professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and the Division of Plastic Surgery since 2006 and as the Program Director for the Hand Surgery Fellowship for more than 20 years. His specialty involves congenital anomalies, trauma, arthritis, contractures, oncology, vascular and peripheral nerve problems. Additionally, Dr. Netscher has served as a Director of both the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery as well as on the Conjoint Hand Surgery Board.
Dr. Netscher received his medical degree from the University of Witwatersrand Medical School in Johannesburg, South Africa, and clinical fellowship training in hand surgery at The Christine M. Kleinert Institute for Hand and Micro Surgery. Additionally, he completed a general surgery and internal medicine internship at Johannesburg General Hospital, and a general surgery residency at the University of Louisville, followed by a plastic surgery residency at Baylor College of Medicine.
During his presidential term, Dr. Netscher intends for his vision to maintain and build upon SMA’s proud history and tradition. “SMA’s mission is to improve quality of patient care through multispecialty, interprofessional education,” he said. “Indeed, strength is achieved through collaboration between specialties and investment in the future careers of young healthcare providers.”
An active member of SMA for more than 35 years, Dr. Netscher serves on SMA’s newly formed IMG Support & Advocay Committee, as well as the Association's Education Committee.
