New Deputy Director Brings Extensive Experience and Expertise to Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System
Dr. Martha Smith has recently been appointed as the Deputy Director at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, after serving as the Assistant Medical Center Director at the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. Prior to this role, she had extensive experience in allied healthcare and direct practice, with over 33 years under her belt.
Dr. Smith first joined the Veterans Health Administration in 2015 as the Chief of Nutrition and Food Services at the W.G. Bill Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury, North Carolina. Before that, she served in the United States Army for seven years as a commissioned officer and two years in the Army Reserves. Her military assignments included Seoul, South Korea with the 65th Medical Brigade from 2012-2015 and Joint Base Lewis McChord near Tacoma, Washington from 2008-2012.
In addition to her doctorate, Dr. Smith holds a Master of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Eastern Michigan University and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Michigan State University. She is an accomplished speaker and has been published in multiple peer-reviewed publications. She is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). In her free time, Dr. Smith enjoys traveling, swimming, playing the French horn, and spending time with her seven grown children and five grandchildren.
Dr. Smith’s experience and qualifications make her an excellent fit for her new role at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System. She brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this position and is committed to providing quality care to veterans across the region.
The Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System serves over 79,000 veterans annually across three medical centers located in Hammond, New Orleans, and Baton Rouge. The system provides comprehensive healthcare services to veterans who have served six months of active service or more or who have served more than six years on active duty after October 7th ,1989
