Scott Smith PsyD

Scott Smith, PsyD, currently serves as the Acting Chief of Staff for the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center (VAMC). Smith joined the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2008 at the Carl Vinson VAMC and has served for approximately 17 years with the VA. Prior to this role, Dr. Smith served as the Acting Deputy Chief of Staff from January 2025 to June 2025. As Acting DCOS, he was responsible for the leadership and management of the Pathology and Laboratory department, Pharmacy Services, the Primary Care Service Line, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the Mental Health Service Line, Health Informatics, Women’s Health, Whole Health, Radiology, and the Social Work Service Line. Dr. Smith has served as the Associate Chief of Staff, Mental Health Service Line (MHSL) since April 2020. 

Dr. Smith received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Georgia majoring in Psychology, his Master of Science (MS) degree from Georgia State University majoring in Professional Counseling, his Master of Arts (MA) degree from the Georgia School of Professional Psychology (GSPP) majoring in Clinical Psychology, and his Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree from GSPP majoring in Clinical Psychology. Before returning to the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center in 2020, Dr. Smith served with the Atlanta VA Health Care System for approximately 10 years where he served in a variety of leadership roles to include Deputy Chief, Mental Health Service Line, Clinical Director, General Mental Health, South, and Acting Associate Chief of Staff, MHSL on a number of occasions. Dr. Smith was appointed as Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences with Emory University’s School of Medicine from February 2017 to April 2020. He was appointed by the Governor and confirmed through the Georgia Senate to serve on the Georgia State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (Georgia Licensing Boards Division) where he served for approximately 5 years until September 2023. Dr. Smith is a Member of the College of Healthcare Executives, a Member of the Association of VA Psychologist Leaders, and a Member of the Association of State & Provincial Psychology Boards. He completed the VISN 7 VA Southeast Network Clinical Executive Leadership Training Program, Class of 2016. In 2024, Dr. Smith completed the Southeastern States Network Consortium – Clinical Leadership Improvement, Networking, and Innovation Course. Dr. Smith completed the Workplace Violence Prevention Program: Coordinated Care Mini-Residency with the Veterans Health Administration in 2009 in Portland, Oregon. 

Prior to joining the VA, Dr. Smith also worked over 9 years with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) as a Forensic Psychologist in full-time or part-time positions. Dr. Smith completed the state of Georgia’s Competency to Stand Trial Certification process through DBHDD and has served as an expert witness in multiple cases across central Georgia. He has also worked in the private sector in part-time or full-time positions for many years. Most notably, Dr. Smith previously worked for the Ridgeview Institute in Smyrna, GA for over 6 years with their inpatient psychiatric, partial hospitalization program, intensive outpatient treatment program, and Access Center. He served as the Assistant Director to the Access Center from July 2005 to April 2006. He completed his predoctoral internship, which was accredited by the American Psychological Association, with the Northwest Georgia Consortium Internship at Northwest Georgia Regional Hospital in Rome, GA. Dr. Smith finished his postdoctoral work experience as a Forensic Psychology Fellow with the Central State Hospital Postdoctoral Fellowship in Milledgeville, GA.