Thomas E. Smith
Keynote Speaker: First Person in Medical History to be Paralyzed Three Separate Times and Recover; Disability Awareness Advocate & Founder of the Thomas E. Smith Foundation
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Thomas E. Smith Biography
Thomas E. Smith is the first person in medical history to be paralyzed three separate times and recover. Growing up in Massachusetts as a rising hockey star, Smith signed a Junior A hockey contract after high school to best position himself to receive a collegiate scholarship. However, on Aug. 2, 2008, he sustained a paralyzing injury that many thought would end his promising career. After months of rehabilitation at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, the world’s most comprehensive research center for paralysis, he made a one-in-a-million recovery and was cleared by doctors to return to the ice.
Then on Oct. 1, 2009, it happened again: Smith sustained a second life-changing injury while playing hockey, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Doctors said Smith had a better chance of winning the lottery five times in a row than having two completely unrelated paralyzing injuries. On the morning of Jan. 11, 2010, while driving to physical therapy, he was involved in a car accident and was paralyzed for a third time. In just 17 months, Smith had sustained three separate paralyzing injuries and once more faced the fight of his life.
In pursuit of a new purpose, he co-founded The Thomas E. Smith Foundation, a non-profit volunteer organization that provides emotional and financial assistance to the paralysis community. To date, The Thomas E. Smith Foundation has donated over $450,000 to individual patient sponsorships and paralysis research.
In 2013, he founded The Look-Up Line, ice hockey’s first warning track, and received patents for his invention in both the United States and Canada. In 2015, Smith became the first person with paralysis to cycle the eastern seaboard, biking over 2,100 miles from Boston, Massachusetts to Miami, Florida. He raised $100,000 for the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis as a result of his journey. In 2018, he became the first person who has been paralyzed multiples times to complete the Boston Marathon without the use of a wheelchair. On April 15th, 2024, Smith completed the Boston Marathon for a sixth time since being paralyzed. He currently serves as the President and Co-Founder of his foundation and the Co-Chair: Massachusetts Hockey Safety Committee at Mass Hockey.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Thomas E. Smith and other top speakers and celebrities.
Thomas E. Smith Speaking Topics
Tom Smith speaks openly about the challenges and setbacks he’s faced throughout his career, and what it took to push through them. Drawing from real moments—not just highlight wins—Tom shows how adversity can shape character, sharpen focus, and ultimately lead to growth when handled the right way.
Tom Smith believes leadership is earned through actions, not words. In this topic, he shares how leading by example—showing up prepared, working consistently, and holding yourself accountable—creates trust and raises the standard for everyone around you. His message focuses on doing the work and letting that speak for itself.
A winning mindset didn’t come naturally—it was built through experience, preparation, and repetition. Tom Smith breaks down how he learned to stay mentally locked in, handle pressure, and compete at a high level day after day. His approach gives audiences practical takeaways they can apply to their own goals, whether in sports, school, or work.
Thomas E. Smith Videos
How do I book Thomas E. Smith to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Thomas E. Smith for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Thomas E. Smith, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Thomas E. Smith or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Thomas E. Smith for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Thomas E. Smith, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Thomas E. Smith are Below $10,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Thomas E. Smith, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does Thomas E. Smith speak about?
Thomas E. Smith is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Disability, Non-Profit, Hockey, Social Activism, Philanthropy, Motivational, Overcoming Adversity, Resilience, Business Leadership, Running, Personal Growth, Mindset and Leadership.
Where does Thomas E. Smith travel from?
Thomas E. Smith generally travels from Boston, MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Thomas E. Smith?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Thomas E. Smith for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Thomas E. Smith for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Thomas E. Smith or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Thomas E. Smith is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Disability, Non-Profit and Hockey. The estimated speaking fee range to book Thomas E. Smith for live events is Below $10,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Thomas E. Smith generally travels from Boston, MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Dr. Michael Time, Jaco van Gass and Dylan Alcott. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Thomas E. Smith for an upcoming event.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Thomas E. Smith Speaking Topics
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Overcoming Adversity
Tom Smith speaks openly about the challenges and setbacks he’s faced throughout his career, and what it took to push through them. Drawing from real moments—not just highlight wins—Tom shows how adversity can shape character, sharpen focus, and ultimately lead to growth when handled the right way.
-
Leading Through Action
Tom Smith believes leadership is earned through actions, not words. In this topic, he shares how leading by example—showing up prepared, working consistently, and holding yourself accountable—creates trust and raises the standard for everyone around you. His message focuses on doing the work and letting that speak for itself.
-
Creating a Winning Mindset
A winning mindset didn’t come naturally—it was built through experience, preparation, and repetition. Tom Smith breaks down how he learned to stay mentally locked in, handle pressure, and compete at a high level day after day. His approach gives audiences practical takeaways they can apply to their own goals, whether in sports, school, or work.
VIDEO
Thomas E. Smith Videos
FAQS
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How do I book Thomas E. Smith to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Thomas E. Smith for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Thomas E. Smith, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Thomas E. Smith or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Thomas E. Smith for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Thomas E. Smith, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Thomas E. Smith are Below $10,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Thomas E. Smith, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Thomas E. Smith speak about?
Thomas E. Smith is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Disability, Non-Profit, Hockey, Social Activism, Philanthropy, Motivational, Overcoming Adversity, Resilience, Business Leadership, Running, Personal Growth, Mindset and Leadership. -
Where does Thomas E. Smith travel from?
Thomas E. Smith generally travels from Boston, MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for Thomas E. Smith?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Thomas E. Smith for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Thomas E. Smith for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Thomas E. Smith or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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