Dr. Martha Smith, a Registered Dietitian with over 33 years of experience in both allied healthcare and direct practice, has been appointed as the Deputy Director at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System. She began her career in 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 moving on to serve as Assistant Medical Center Director at the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Prior to her work in the VA, Dr. Smith served in the United States Army for seven years as a commissioned officer, followed by two years in the Army Reserves. She had military assignments in Seoul, South Korea with the 65th Medical Brigade from 2012-2015 and at Joint Base Lewis McChord near Tacoma, Washington from 2008-2012. In addition to her military service, Dr. Smith also holds a Doctor of Educational Leadership (EdD) from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Eastern Michigan University, along with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Michigan State University.
Dr. Smith is an accomplished speaker who has published multiple peer-reviewed publications and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). In her free time, she enjoys traveling, swimming, playing the French horn and spending time with her seven grown children and five grandchildren.
