About Scott Saffold

Dr. Scott Saffold is a board-certified otolaryngologist, founder, and medical director of Chesapeake Bay ENT, the leading ear, nose, and throat practice in Southeastern Virginia. Since 2001, he has led the Belle Haven, Virginia-based practice’s transformation from a single-site clinic in a medically underserved rural community into a regionally respected multi-site organization known for world-class, evidence-based, technologically advanced care delivered with compassion and respect. In May 2026, Dr Saffold will mark his 25th anniversary in practice in Virginia.

At the heart of Dr. Saffold’s business approach is a deep commitment to customer service and employee empowerment. He has created a culture that fosters continuous improvement, motivating his team to innovate, leverage data-driven decision making, and adopt an unrelenting focus on quality. From front desk staff to advanced practice providers (APPs), his leadership has helped countless individuals grow professionally and achieve their goals.

A Reputation of Excellence

Under the leadership of Saffold, Chesapeake Bay ENT has earned a reputation for both clinical excellence and forward-thinking care delivery. He believes that every individual in all communities should receive responsive care and access to technologically advanced, state-of-the-art healthcare.

Rather than centralize care in a large, impersonal facility, Dr. Saffold has prioritized small, community-based sites tailored to each community’s needs and the character of the neighborhoods where they reside. By doing so, he has fostered accountability, strengthened relationships with referring physicians, and created a patient experience that feels deeply personal.

He remains passionate about delivering care to all patients, regardless of their insurance status, and believes in creating systems that prioritize people over short-term efficiency.

Looking ahead, Dr. Saffold hopes to be remembered as a courageous and principled leader who empowered others to reach their full potential, consistently prioritized patient care, and never stopped striving to improve.

Recognized As a Pioneer in the Use of APPs and AI

Dr. Scott Saffold is recognized as a pioneer in the use of APPs, such as nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs), to expand access to specialty care, improve efficiency and patient outcomes, and work collaboratively with physicians in complex care settings. He developed comprehensive standards for training and supervision that ensured consistent quality while enabling safe, scalable expansion into new markets.

He has also led initiatives to incorporate AI-assisted medical documentation, in-office CT scanning, and advanced diagnostic procedures, such as in-office laryngeal biopsies, with a continued focus on improving accuracy, convenience, and patient outcomes.

Dr. Saffold is a dedicated community member, serving on the board of a regional hospital system, and played a key role in forging partnerships to expand care access to rural Virginia. Local media regularly interview him on sinonasal disease and balloon sinus dilation, and he has published academic work on selective neck dissection, dermal allografts in reconstructive surgery, and tumor immunology.

Since 2014, Dr. Saffold has also served as the Medical Director of the Virginia Sinus Center in Virginia Beach. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Otolaryngology and a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Education and Training

Dr. Saffold earned his undergraduate degree in Cell Biology in 1990 from UC Berkeley. He attended Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, and graduated at the top of his class. He was also inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

Scott Saffold completed his General Surgery Internship at the University of New York at Buffalo, his research fellowship at Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio, and his otolaryngology residency at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, where he received advanced-level training from nationally recognized experts in the fields of Otology Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Head and Neck Surgery, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pediatric Otolaryngology, and Head and Neck Radiology. He chose the field of general otolaryngology to maximize the scope of services he could provide to his community.

Dr. Saffold is the proud sponsor of a medical school scholarship at Meharry Medical College, supporting underrepresented students in medicine.

He also received his MBA from Old Dominion University/Strome College of Business in Norfolk, Virginia.

Awards

Saffold has received numerous awards throughout his medical training, including:

• Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
• Wantanabe Scholar (for high scholarship and dedication to the mission of Meharry Medical College)
• Paul Alfred Johnson, MD Memorial Scholarship (for outstanding performance in Internal Medicine)
• Boyd Medical Society Scholarship (for outstanding performance in Hematology)
• Frazier Scholarship Award (for outstanding performance in Pathology)
• Outstanding Student – Dept of Anatomy (for highest performance)
• Northern California Meharry Alumni Award
• Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities
• Medical Scholar Scholarship (for research participation)

Personal Life

Dr. Scott Saffold is a devoted father to a daughter and son, a youth football coach, and an endurance athlete who has completed multiple marathons and triathlons, including two half-Ironman competitions. He also enjoys reading.