Heather M. Smith

Heather M. Smith, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, with primary clinical and administrative responsibilities at the Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee. Her dual academic and VA appointments include leadership of the Interprofessional Fellowship in Palliative Care (since 2007) and Psychology Training Program (since 2020).

Her research program centers on:

• Geropsychology and neurocognitive disorders
• Palliative care competency development
• Healthcare provider burnout interventions
• Veteran mental health services
• End-of-life decision-making capacities

She maintains active VA-funded projects examining dialysis-related cognitive changes, dementia caregiver support, and innovative care models for complex veterans.

Honors include:

• Distinguished Clinical Mentorship Award (2014)
• Excellence in Research Award (2014)
• MCW Faculty Outstanding Service Award (2019)
• Outstanding Research Award (2021)
• Outstanding Faculty Mentorship Award (2022)

She directs training programs for 50+ fellows and interns, with educational focus on palliative care, geropsychology, and clinical leadership. Her VA roles involve developing system-wide training curricula for dementia care, communication skills, and staff resilience.