After earning a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from Skidmore College, Dr. Smith graduated from the University at Buffalo (UB) School of Medicine and Biomedical Science. She then completed psychiatric residency and fellowship training in child and adolescent psychiatry at UB. Dr. Smith has been a faculty member of the Jacobs School in the Department of Psychiatry’s Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry since 2005 and the Department of Pediatrics since 2006.

Dr. Smith is currently the interim chair in the Department of Psychiatry and chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She also serves as president of UBMD Psychiatry, chief of Behavioral Health for Kaleida Health and medical director for the Children’s Psychiatry Clinic of Oishei Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Smith‘s clinical work focuses on the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with comorbid medical illness, including collaboration with other medical specialties. She has a particular interest in adherence in medically ill children. She is widely recognized as an international expert in the mental health of individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF).

In addition to her extensive clinical work with patients with CF, Dr. Smith has been a leader in developing and studying psychiatric therapies for patients with CF. She has extensive funding to conduct research on depression, cognitive behavioral therapy, adherence, and other key psychiatric issues in patients with cystic fibrosis. Dr. Smith coauthored international guidelines on depression and anxiety in CF for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and European CF Society. She has spearheaded the implementation of these guidelines worldwide. Dr. Smith was recently award a $3 million grant form the CF Foundation to lead a national epidemiological study to assess mental health in children with CF under 12 years. Dr. Smith is also involved in the development of CF specific patient reported outcome measures. She has presented extensively at national and international conferences on these topics. Dr. Smith is the founding chair of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation‘s Mental Health Advisory Committee whose mission is to promote and support the mental well-being of individuals with CF and their families by partnering with CF Care Centers to provide screening, preventative interventions and ongoing innovative services.

Dr. Smith, has served in many editorial roles in psychiatric and pulmonary journals and publications, writing dozens of peer reviewed manuscripts. She is a frequently sought after speaker, having presented regionally, nationally, and internationally on mental health and cystic fibrosis.

Recognized as a leader in her field, Dr. Smith has received a multitude of awards including the Carolyn and C. Richard Mattingly Leadership in Mental Health Care Award, the Award for Outstanding Service in Psychiatry, Award for Outstanding Achievements in Research, as well the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Education three times. She was Inducted into the Emeritus Faculty Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychiatry

Children, Adolescents

Physician Gender:

Female