Susan Hardwick-Smith

More About Dr. Susan

Dr. Susan earned her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and completed her residency at the University of Texas in Houston, where she served as Administrative Chief Resident in 1998–1999. She was named Outstanding Chief Resident in 1999 and received an award for excellence in laparoscopic surgery in 1998. During residency, she published an award-winning study on anesthesia for neonatal circumcision thatreceived numerous awards and helped change national practice toward the humane use of anesthesia for the procedure.

From 2004 to 2026, Dr. Susan was named a “Texas Superdoctor” by Texas Monthly 20 times, earning her a place in the Texas Superdoctors Hall of Fame. H Texas magazine has recognized her among Houston’s “Top Doctors for Women” and “Top Doctors” multiple times, and she is the only physician recognized as a Houston “Top Doctor” in Cosmetic Gynecology. ThreeBestRated.com named her one of Houston’s top three gynecologists for several consecutive years. In 2013 the Medical Group Management Association named her its national Physician Executive of the Year, and in 2006 she was nominated for Physician of the Year at Memorial Hermann Hospital. She has also received numerous Patients’ Choice and Compassionate Doctor awards from online patient reviews, and in 2020 she received the Kathryn S. Stream Award for excellence in healthcare from the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Susan’s education and influence have continued well beyond residency. She trained as an executive coach through Rice University and specializes in coaching women in midlife discover their highest potential. More than twenty years ago, she became the first gynecologist in Houston to focus on cosmetic gynecology, when the field was just still emerging, and she has since spoken at national conferences on the topic. Her work has been published in the American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery, and she co-authored a landmark study on the safety of labiaplasty in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal. Through national conference presentations and frequent media appearances, Dr. Susan has become a trusted authority on menopause, hormone therapy, midlife sexual wellness, and healthy aging. Known for translating complex medical science into clear, practical guidance, she brings an experienced clinical voice to both professional and public conversations about women’s health.

Dr. Susan is the author of Sexually Woke, which chronicles her research into sexual wellness in midlife women. The book debuted in 2020 at the top of several Amazon best-seller and best-new-release rankings, including the Sex & Sexuality, Menopause, and Sexual Wellness categories. Her second book, Create Her: Aging Into the Healthiest Version of Yourself, will be published in early 2027. Together, her books extend that mission by translating decades of clinical experience and research into accessible guidance for women navigating midlife.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Susan is an accomplished endurance athlete. She has completed more than a dozen marathons, nine full Ironman triathlons, more than thirty-five half Ironman triathlons, and numerous shorter-distance races. She enjoys meditation and mindful self-awareness, as well as swimming, biking, running, strength training, yoga, travel, decorating, and spending time with family and friends. She has also been actively involved in nonprofit women’s health projects in Sierra Leone and Malawi.

Today, Dr. Susan limits her surgical practice to cosmetic gynecology, including labiaplasty and vaginal rejuvenation. Her clinical practice is dedicated to comprehensive midlife women’s wellness, including hormone assessment and management, weight management, sexual and relational wellness, and personalized strategies to optimize healthspan.