James Bert Smith, MD

Dr. James Bert Smith, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist who practiced for four decades in Santa Fe NM and St. Louis MO, died at home Sunday, October 22, 2023  with his family at his side.  He was born  August 4, 1941 in Boonville, MO to Earnest Bert and Addie Lee Smith and grew up in Moberly, MO.

Smith a member of Phi Beta Kappa, received his BA from  The University of Missouri, Columbia MO, his medical degree from the University of Missouri School of Medicine in Columbia, MO. He interned at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington KY. He served his residency at Washington University School of Medicine, Barnes Hospital in St. Louis MO, where he mentored young physicians. Smith was a member and President of  the American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists. He was licensed to practice in New Mexico, South Carolina, and Missouri.

As an Air Force Captain during the buildup to the Vietnam war, Smith served as a medical officer at George Air Force Base in Victorville, CA from 1968 to 1972.

Smith remained close to colleagues from St. Louis, including Dr. Bill Campbell in St. Louis.  Campbell described him as an “outstanding psychiatrist”.  Even early in his career as a young psychiatrist, Campbell said, St. Louis physicians recognized his abilities and recommended him to their patients.

The psychiatric faculty at Washington University recognized him, in the words of one colleague, as someone who could deal with complicated identities and relationships.  Further, the colleague called Smith “exquisite” in prescribing for his patients. Smith was “caring, very caring”, the colleague added. In public situations he was “discrete” always, and “very thoughtful”.

Professional colleagues in St. Louis found Smith to be irreplaceable when he left for Santa Fe  and a number of his patients followed him to Santa Fe. There he opened a practice serving patients in psychiatric treatment from 2001 until the present. 

For more than 50 years, Smith was universally recognized as a physician who dedicated himself to his patients, someone with a “tremendous work ethic,” his brother-in-law James Edwards said.

In his private life, Smith was a dog lover and a scuba diver. Another brother-in-law, Nick Nierengarten who used to accompany him and his wife scuba diving, spoke of his skill with an underwater camera; and how he produced stunning photographs of underwater life. 

As a dog fancier, Dr. Smith regularly contributed to the support of the Akita breed.  He was also a skier and a strong biker who climbed the Going-to-the-Sun Highway in Glacier Park with all his gear in his panniers.

He and his wife were adventuresome travelers fond of visiting less-commonly seen regions, including China, Cambodia, India, Vietnam, Brazil and Latin American prehistoric sites.

Smith is survived by his wife of 54 years, Beej (Barbara Jean) Nierengarten-Smith.  His beloved sister Patricia Edwards nee Smith, preceded him in death in 2013. Other survivors include his brother-in-law James Edwards, niece Debbie Edwards and her children: Benjamin Kiem and Hannah Kiem, and granddaughter Dahlia Siegel; Laurie Wilburn (Dan) and her children: Meah Wilburn and Hudson Wilburn; and Edwin Edwards (Julie) and his children: Ryan Edwards and Andrew Edwards. His in-laws that survive are siblings Catherine (Kitz) Nierengarten-Kerr, Mark Nierengarten, Nick Nierengarten, Edward A. Nierengarten Jr., niece Michele Cleary and grand-niece Jane Krutsch.

Dr. Smith will be remembered at a memorial event at Rivera Funeral Home, Santa Fe, NM Thursday, November 2, 2023 at 4:00pm.

The family has indicated that any tributes may be given to the Española Animal Shelter, 108 Hamm Pkwy, Española, NM 87532; (505) 753-8662, [email protected].