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Miriam Smyth, PhD, is the Director of the Brain, Behavioral and Mental Health Broad Portfolio (BBMH), Office of Research and Development (ORD), Washington, DC.
BBMH is focused on improving the mental and behavioral health of our nation’s Veterans with a particular focus on advancing precision mental health care within VA and conducting research into high priority VA research areas such as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Dr. Smyth previously led the Clinical Science Research and Development Service, overseeing a program of over $100M in clinical research and approximately 430 research projects aimed at improving the health and well being of the nation’s Veterans.
Dr. Smyth has extensive leadership experience in the health care research arena. She has initiated high-visibility national projects to advance ORD’s goals, ensuring that the VA research program performs innovative, scientifically meritorious research that advances the care of Veterans. Dr. Smyth leads the PTSD Psychopharmacology Initiative and has worked to advance research on the use of cannabis, psychedelics, and transcranial magnetic stimulation to treat mental health conditions that are resistant to today’s first-line approaches.
Dr. Smyth has detailed working knowledge of VA research, gained through her progressive leadership roles during her 29-year career in the Department of Veterans Affairs. She joined VA in 1995 as a researcher at the Durham VA Medical Center with a dual appointment at Duke University Medical Center. Subsequently, she became a Research Scientist at the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS) and a faculty member at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. During her time at the VAMHCS, she moved into administration of VA research, ultimately serving as the Deputy Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development.