Scott Saffold
Physician and Medical Director
Dr Scott Saffold is a board-certified otolaryngologist, founder, and medical director of Chesapeake Bay ENT, a leading ear, nose, and throat practice in Southeastern Virginia. Since 2001, he has overseen the practice’s growth from a single-location clinic in Belle Haven, situated in a medically underserved rural area, into a respected, multi-site organization. Known for combining evidence-based medicine with advanced technology, the practice emphasizes care that is both accessible and delivered with respect and compassion. In May 2026, he will mark 25 years of continuous medical service in the state of Virginia.
A Commitment to Team and Service
His approach to healthcare leadership is rooted in strong principles of service and team development. Dr Saffold has built a workplace culture that encourages responsibility, learning, and collaboration across every role in the organization. From front office personnel to advanced practice providers (APPs), he has consistently supported individual and collective growth, helping staff achieve their professional goals.
His strategy promotes continuous improvement, using data-driven insights to guide decisions and processes. This approach has led to innovations in patient care and improved internal systems. He emphasizes quality and reliability at every stage of care, helping the organization deliver consistent results while adapting to evolving healthcare needs. Through this method, he has empowered his team to innovate while staying grounded in the core mission of serving patients with dignity.
A Reputation of Excellence
The reputation of Chesapeake Bay ENT reflects its commitment to delivering high-quality care across a wide range of communities. He believes that all individuals deserve access to responsive and technologically advanced healthcare, regardless of their location or insurance status. Rather than developing a large centralized medical facility, he has established smaller, community-based clinics tailored to each area's unique needs and character.
This decentralized model fosters stronger relationships between care providers and patients while also creating accountability at every clinic site. It also supports stronger referral networks with local physicians, contributing to a more personalized experience for patients. His belief in prioritizing people is evident in how the practice continues to value long-term well-being over short-term efficiency.
Scott Saffold remains devoted to serving individuals from all walks of life, advocating for systems that keep care accessible and focused on tangible outcomes. His leadership has shaped a model where quality, compassion, and community are at the core of every decision.
Recognized As a Pioneer in the Use of APPs and AI
He is recognized for pioneering the integration of APPs—nurse practitioners and physician assistants—into specialty care settings. By establishing clear training standards and supervision protocols, he enabled APPs to contribute meaningfully and safely to the practice, enhancing patient access and supporting efficient care delivery. His model allows scalable growth while maintaining high standards of care and fostering teamwork among providers.
Additionally, he has led initiatives that integrate technology into the patient care experience. These include the use of AI-assisted medical documentation, in-office CT scanning, and in-office laryngeal biopsy procedures. Each advancement is designed to improve accuracy, enhance efficiency, and increase convenience for patients, all while maintaining the highest quality of care. His willingness to embrace innovation, while ensuring its safe and effective use, reflects his forward-thinking approach to clinical leadership.
His efforts in these areas have contributed to improved patient outcomes and a more sustainable workflow for his team. By blending traditional medical practices with innovative tools, Dr Saffold continues to guide the practice in a direction that strikes a balance between reliability and progress.
Active in the Community and Academia
In addition to his work at the clinic, he is actively involved in community and academic endeavors. Dr Scott Saffold serves on the board of a regional hospital system, where he has helped shape strategies to expand access to care across rural areas in Virginia. Through his involvement in regional partnerships, he supports broader efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery at the community level.
Local media frequently interview him for his expertise in areas such as sinonasal disease and balloon sinus dilation. His academic contributions include research publications on selective neck dissection, the use of dermal allografts in reconstructive surgery, and tumor immunology. These contributions demonstrate his ongoing interest in advancing medical knowledge and sharing insights with both the medical community and the public.
Since 2014, he has also served as the Medical Director of the Virginia Sinus Center in Virginia Beach. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Otolaryngology and a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Education and Training
His academic foundation began with a degree in Cell Biology, earned in 1990 from the University of California, Berkeley. Dr Saffold later attended Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, where he graduated at the top of his class and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.
He completed a General Surgery Internship at the University of New York at Buffalo and a research fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio. His otolaryngology residency took place at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, where he trained under national experts in several subspecialties, including Otology, Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Head and Neck Surgery, Pediatric Otolaryngology, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and Head and Neck Radiology.
Scott Saffold chose to focus on general otolaryngology to serve a broader range of patients and meet the diverse needs of his local community. In support of future medical professionals, he sponsors a medical school scholarship at Meharry Medical College, specifically for students from underrepresented backgrounds. Additionally, he holds an MBA from the Strome College of Business at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.
Awards
Throughout his education and medical training, he has received numerous honors and awards, including:
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
- Watanabe Scholar (for academic achievement and dedication to Meharry’s mission)
- Paul Alfred Johnson, MD Memorial Scholarship (for Internal Medicine)
- Boyd Medical Society Scholarship (for Hematology)
- Frazier Scholarship Award (for Pathology)
- Outstanding Student in the Department of Anatomy
- Northern California Meharry Alumni Award
- Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities
- Medical Scholar Scholarship (for research participation)
Personal Life
Outside the clinical setting, he is a dedicated father to a daughter and a son. He is also active in his community as a youth football coach. An accomplished endurance athlete, he has completed several marathons and triathlons, including two half-Ironman events. In his free time, he enjoys reading and personal development.
Scott Saffold continues to lead with clarity, purpose, and dedication—prioritizing quality care, empowering others, and working to improve health outcomes throughout the communities he serves.