Jean Hay-Smith

Elizabeth Jean Carleton Hay-Smith is a New Zealand academic, and is a full professor at the University of Otago in Wellington, specialising in research on non-surgical treatments for pelvic organ prolapse and bladder problems.

Academic career
Hay-Smith was born and brought up in Te Awaroa, and originally trained and worked as a physiotherapist before moving into academia. During her work as a physiotherapist at The London Hospital, obstetrician Wendy Savage began referring women experiencing dyspareunia (painful sex after childbirth) to her. Encouraged to pursue academia by obstetric physiotherapist Jill Mantle, Hay-Smith then studied dyspareunia for her master's degree. Returning to New Zealand, Hay-Smith completed a PhD titled Pelvic floor muscle training for female stress urinary incontinence at the University of Otago in 2003. Hay-Smith then joined the faculty of the University of Otago in Wellington, rising to associate professor in 2014 and full professor in 2020.  Hay-Smith is an honorary associate professor at the University of Stirling. She is part of the Flourishing Together research project on health policy for disabled people.

Hay-Smith's research focuses on people with pelvic organ prolapse and bladder issues, such as incontinence. She uses clinical trials to investigate non-surgical treatments, and qualitative research to understand patient perspectives. She has also researched bladder management after stroke. Hay-Smith has contributed to Cochrane reviews on research to improve rehabilitation for bladder leakage and prolapse.