I'm John Thomson Smith. As a specialist in trauma and orthopaedic knee surgery, I have worked in clinical practice in the United Kingdom for over two decades, combining this with entrepreneurial work in medical technology innovation, digital health and longevity medicine. In my view, the future of healthcare lies not only in treating the sick, but in focusing on the early diagnosis of disease. We should also apply preventive and personalised medicine to extend our healthspan and longevity.
Background
Medical degree with distinction – First-Class Honours (University of Liverpool, United Kingdom)
Specialist training, orthopaedics and traumatology (Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh)
Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Knee Surgeon (Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, United Kingdom)
Surgical excellence – over 7,500 operations and three national NHS Clinical Excellence Awards
Chief Medical Officer at several MedTech and digital health companies
What drives me
In my clinical practice, I realised early on that two patients undergoing the same surgical procedure can follow completely different healing paths. One is back playing sport within weeks, while the other struggles for months with a lengthy recovery. This variability in recovery fascinated me and led me to a central question: What really determines healing, regeneration and long-term health?
The answer does not lie in surgical technique alone. It lies in biological and genetic processes at a cellular level, in tissue quality and in biomarkers that show how our body works.This gave me the motivation and drive to broaden my horizons beyond the limits of conventional surgery – into the world of medical technology and AI-assisted diagnostics.
My career
I graduated in medicine from the University of Liverpool in 2000 with First-Class Honours. Even then, it was clear to me that the future of medicine lies in combining innovative medical technology with evidence-based clinical practice. After my specialist training at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, I focused on knee surgery and sports injuries. A field in which surgical innovation and precision directly determine my patients' quality of life.
My entrepreneurial experience as a consultant, product designer and medical education lead for renowned companies such as Zimmer Biomet, Smith & Nephew, BioPoly LLC and Hy2Care has enabled me to bridge the gap between innovative technology and direct clinical care in order to improve long-term patient outcomes.
I have a strong research background, with leading roles in clinical trials. I also have an extensive portfolio of scientific publications on the development of next-generation surgical technologies and contemporary solutions in longevity medicine.
The future is longevity & healthspan
As a keen sportsman, I have developed a deep personal interest in longevity medicine. Longevity, or lifespan, is the length of time a person lives. Healthspan, on the other hand, is the number of years lived in good health, which has a direct impact on our quality of life. Longevity medicine combines current research, preventive healthcare and personalised therapies to slow down ageing processes.
My work as Chief Medical Adviser at Rejuve.AI involves using cutting-edge technology to create a network and a decentralised health data platform. These are intended to deliver revolutionary insights into longevity and healthspan.
What I bring to Melinava
At Melinava, I combine more than 20 years of clinical experience with my deep understanding of medical technology and longevity research to provide insights for the development of high-quality supplements. The aim is to deliver optimal bioavailability of nutrients and thereby support biological regeneration, a high-performance lifestyle and healthy longevity. As a keen sportsman, I know from personal experience how important the right nutrients are for regeneration, performance and long-term health.
Meaningful formulations – active ingredients must be backed by clinical studies, not just by tradition or marketing
Systemic thinking – joints, metabolism, brain and cardiovascular system work together; supplements must take this into account
Longevity perspective – healthy not just today, but in 20 years' time too; prevention is better than repair
Health is no accident. It comes from the interplay of knowledge, prevention and a holistic view of the person.
