Thinus is a Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgeon with an interest in upper GIT, bariatric and metabolic surgery. He is a Proventi accredited bariatric surgeon, a member of SASES, an Exco member of SAMMS and a director of Surgicom. He matriculated at Grey College in 1996, obtained his MB ChB at the University of the Free State in 2003, his MMed (Surg) at the University of Pretoria in 2011 and his Fellowship of the College of Surgeons of South Africa in 2011 He is currently head of the BSI Unit for metabolic surgery at Zuid Afrikaans Hospital in Pretoria and is the founder and director of the Bespoke Surgical Institute. Thinus has been working in general surgery full time since 2005. He established his private practice at Life Groenkloof hospital as a specialist surgeon in 2011. In 2021 he moved his practice to Zuid Afrikaans Hospital where he is developing a unit focused on bariatric and upper GIT surgery, in partnership with Dr Abri Bezuidenhout and Dr Francois Schutte. He has been involved in bariatric surgery since 2017. Dr Smit is married and has 3 sons. He is a keen cyclist and an avid cricket fan.
Selected publications from PubMed
Performance of four malnutrition screening tools evaluated with the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition framework and the Mini Nutritional Assessment Full Form in hospitalised patients with diabetic foot ulcers.
de Smit TL, Vasse E, Teunissen ICM, Balvers MGJ, Kolkert JLP
Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2026 Aug 27;:105061 doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2026.105061.
Chronic pain and hazardous drinking among black adults through a minority stress lens: The role of daily microaggressions.
Smit T, Rogers AH, Derrick JL, Businelle MS, Viana AG, Obasi EM, Zvolensky MJ
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2026 Oct 1;287:113312 doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2026.113312.
A scoping review of music-based pain treatment mechanism research.
Bradt J, Hirsh A, Jensen MP, Desbarats E, Burns DS, Dusek JA, Garland EL, Georgescu RD, Gumert L, Hanson K, Khawsar J, Smit T, Roy M
Pain Rep. 2026 Aug;11(4):e1467 doi: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001467.
Exploring the role of chronic overlapping pain conditions on smoking dependence, cessation challenges, and internalizing psychopathology among individuals with irritable bowel syndrome who smoke.
Shepherd JM, Rogers AH, Redmond BY, Garey L, Smit T, Dietel KE, Bakhshaie J, Lackner J, Zvolensky MJ
J Behav Med. 2026 Jul 24 doi: 10.1007/s10865-026-00700-3.
EVOLVE-HBV: A cross-sectional study of HBV seroepidemiology in a rural population in South Africa.
Anderson M, Mazibuko L, Sukali G, Maponga TG, Delphin M, Waddilove E, Upton J, Naidoo VG, Olivier S, Ording-Jespersen G, Gareta D, Martyn E, Gunda R, Herbst K, Hanekom WA, Msomi N, Mthethwa L, Ellapen M, Smit T, Ndung'u T, Wong EB, Siedner MJ, Khoza T, Baisley K, Iwuji C, Matthews PC
Int J Infect Dis. 2026 Oct;171:108998 doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2026.108998.
Technology is rapidly advancing the field of surgical training offering a variety of tools to help surgery residents develop and refine their skills. Virtual reality simulators, for example, allow residents to practice complex surgical procedures in a safe and controlled environment, without putting real patients at risk. Advanced imaging technology, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scan, offers detailed visualization of the human body, giving surgeons the ability to accurately plan and execute surgical procedures. Robotics also play an increasingly important role in surgery allowing for more precise minimally invasive procedures. Additionally, telemedicine technology has made it possible for surgeons to receive remote guidance and assistance from experienced colleagues during surgeries. These technologies have the potential to improve patient outcomes, reduce surgical complications, and ultimately, enhance the overall quality of surgical care. As a surgery resident, is important to stay up to date with the latest technological advancements in surgical training in order to provide the best care for your patients.
With Johnson & Johnson MedTech
Published
Apr 2023
Dr. Smit is a specialist general surgeon in SA focused on upper GIT surgery and bariatric surgery. During 2022 he was the secretary of the South African Metabolic Medicine and Surgery society which is part of the South African Society for endoscopic surgery (SASES), focussing on improving and expanding bariatric surgery in SA and also improving the training for minimal invasive surgery in SA. He is also the co-founder of BSI Deep Health which is a health tech company that is focussed on using AI to improve surgical outcomes. Since 2022 he has been practicing at Zuid Afrikaans Hospital in Pretoria, where he runs a unit for upper GIT surgery and bariatric surgery together with Dr Francois Schutte. He is also involved with the IPIM network (Innovative Perioperative Information Management). This is a newly formed network where they are working to improve the collection of peri operative data and making that data available to specialists to improve the level of care and training and research in SA.
With South African Metabolic Medicine and Surgery Society
Published
Nov 2022
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