Jim Smith M.D., Physician Medical Director

Dr. Smith attained his medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1988. In 1991 he completed an Emergency Medicine residency program at Akron General Medical Center where he served as Chief Resident. He has been board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine since 1992. He has served as President of the Nebraska chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians and in 2006 was appointed by the Governor of Nebraska to serve on the Nebraska State EMS Board and is currently board chairman. Dr. Smith was a Medical Manager for FEMA, Nebraska Task Force 1, Urban Search and Rescue team and was deployed to the 9/11 World Trade Center towers collapse in New York City and also is a founding member of the Department of Homeland Security. Dr. Smith is currently a member of the Great Plains Health Board of directors and has held the positions of Secretary/Treasurer and Board Chairman. He has been Medical Director of Emergency Services at Great Plains Health since 2006. He currently provides medical direction for; North Platte Fire Department, Maxwell Fire and Rescue Department, North Platte Recreation Center, Great Plains LifeNet fixed wing and rotor wing flight programs, Chase County Rescue, Brady Fire and Rescue and Priority Medical Transport, LLC. Dr. Smith was named as "Supervising Physician of the Year" by the Nebraska Academy of Physicians Assistants in 2005, the Nebraska Stroke Advisory Council Service Award in 2007, "EMS Physician Medical Director of the Year" for the State of Nebraska in 2014, and in 2019 he was awarded the "J.G. Elliott Award" by the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the highest recognition they bestow to an individual who has made significant contributions to the state of Nebraska in the field of medicine or health services.