Schaeffer Smith, MPH, CPA, CEO, Comprehensive Radiology Services
By John Wallace, Editor
For Schaeffer Smith, MPH, CPA, leadership extends well beyond the day-to-day responsibilities of serving as CEO of Comprehensive Radiology Services. He has built a career at the intersection of radiology, healthcare business and leadership while making time to give back through professional and community organizations. Schaeffer has held leadership roles with the Radiology Business Management Association (RBMA), Forrest General Healthcare Foundation and other nonprofit organizations.
Schaeffer also enjoys sharing what he has learned along the way. A published author and experienced presenter, he has spoken at industry conferences, educational programs and leadership forums on topics ranging from radiology practice management and consolidation to healthcare valuation and leadership. His combination of professional expertise, industry involvement and commitment to service gives him a unique perspective on leadership in today’s medical imaging community.
From Healthcare Valuation to Radiology Leadership
Family connections helped launch Schaeffer’s healthcare career and ultimately led him to his current role as CEO.
“My mother was a neonatal nurse, and my father was the second oncologist in my hometown. I saw firsthand how much my father cared for patients but didn’t enjoy being tied down into the administrative aspects of his practice,” he shares. “While I was less medically inclined than my parents, I was drawn to the healthcare industry because of them.”
“I spent the first decade of my career in healthcare valuation and financial consulting in a CPA firm before being recruited by a family friend to manage our radiology practice,” he adds.
When asked about his greatest achievement, Schaeffer points first to his family.
“All of my professional accomplishments have come with the love and wisdom of my wife, Allison, supporting me. So perhaps the greatest accomplishment was convincing her to marry me,” he says. “At the moment, though, I am incredibly honored to have been appointed president-elect of RBMA this year by my colleagues in the field.”
The couple will soon celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary. Schaeffer adds that they have “four wonderful daughters from 8 to 16 years old. We also have our ‘little boy’ Australian Shepherd named Caspian.”
Building Trust Through Healthy Conflict
Schaeffer patterns his approach to leadership, in part, after popular team management author Patrick Lencioni, including lessons from his book “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.”
“I’ve been in organizations that culturally struggle to express healthy disagreements and want to lean more into ‘artificial harmony.’ So, I find myself pushing to create trust and the space to lean into conversations with healthy conflict,” he says. “I love how Lencioni states that healthy conflict based in trust is simply the search for the best solution – conflict without trust is politics.”
“To do this, it’s important for me to be vulnerable and ask good questions. If you want to build trust, it is also critical that others are not simply seen or treated as a ‘means to an end’ to accomplish tasks,” he adds.
Of course, family also helped forge his leadership style.
“I think one of my favorite traits in a leader is curiosity. My father was always curious and never lost his boyish wonder at the world and how things work,” Schaeffer says. “Curiosity fuels innovation and learning and promotes listening to other viewpoints and ideas.”
Lessons From Mentors
Professional mentors and colleagues have also helped shape Schaeffer’s approach to leadership.
“Greg Anderson was the first CPA partner who hired me and gave me the advice that I should work on ‘being more persuadable’ – which was a very kind way to coach me to listen better to the good ideas of other people. He also showed that leadership was not about controlling the discussion but was more about modeling the organizational culture and helping others succeed,” Schaeffer shares. “Barney Hebert was another colleague in that CPA firm who advocated heavily for me to have speaking and networking opportunities that helped advance my career. He demonstrated to me the importance of advocating for others when you are in a position of leadership.”
“I also have been privileged to have several close friends who are ministers, and they have been friends, mentors and counselors to me over the years,” he adds. “I would not be the person I am today without their friendship and help and love along the way.”
Paying It Forward
Just as others invested in his professional development, Schaeffer believes in paying it forward by mentoring others and giving back through volunteer service.
For Schaeffer, leadership ultimately comes down to people – the colleagues he works alongside, the professionals he mentors and the community his organization serves. That connection gives his work as CEO added meaning.
“I love that I can tie my day-to-day work to an organizational mission that helps the people in my community,” he says. “I also have a tremendous team (board of radiologists and support staff) that I truly enjoy being around.” •
Getting to Know Schaeffer Smith
- What is the last book you read? I recently finished “Theo of Golden” by Allen Levi.
- Favorite movie? “Finding Nemo” (Just keep swimming…)
- What is something most of your coworkers don’t know about you? I was in a garage band in high school with Nashville recording artist Ruelle.
- What is one thing you do every morning to start your day? I’m not a morning person, so one of the most important things I do is schedule the following morning’s goals and tasks at the end of the day.
- Best advice you ever received? “The best way to demonstrate your knowledge is to ask good questions.” And: “It’s OK to say ‘No’ to good things.”
- Who has had the biggest influence on your life? My wife and my mother. Without those two strong women, who knows where I would be today.
- What would your superpower be? I love photographing birds and butterflies, so the superpower of flight sounds appealing.
- What is your perfect meal? The Gyro Plate at Petra – a restaurant in my hometown of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. You can find me with a group of friends there most Tuesdays.
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