Scott Saffold

Scott Saffold is a board-certified otolaryngologist, founder, and medical director of Chesapeake Bay ENT, a well-established ear, nose, and throat practice serving the Southeastern Virginia region. Since 2001, he has overseen the growth of the Belle Haven-based clinic from a single-site facility in a medically underserved rural area into a respected multi-location organization. The practice is recognized for delivering evidence-based, technologically advanced care with a focus on compassion and respect. In May 2026, he will mark 25 years of medical practice in the state of Virginia.

His leadership emphasizes both high-quality patient care and staff development. Dr Scott Saffold has fostered a culture that encourages continuous improvement, innovation, and data-informed decision-making. Under his guidance, employees at all levels—from front office staff to advanced practice providers—have had opportunities to grow professionally and make meaningful contributions to the practice’s success.

Rather than centralizing services in a large, impersonal facility, he has prioritized smaller, community-based locations tailored to the specific needs and character of the neighborhoods they serve. This approach has strengthened partnerships with referring physicians and created a more personal, accessible experience for patients.

Dr Saffold remains committed to ensuring that care is available to all patients, regardless of their insurance status. His approach focuses on building systems that prioritize patient well-being and long-term outcomes over short-term efficiency. He aspires to be remembered as a principled leader who empowered others, put patients first, and continuously sought improvement.

Scott has been a pioneer in incorporating advanced practice providers, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants, into specialty care. By developing clear training and supervision standards, he expanded access while maintaining consistent quality and safety. He has also led efforts to adopt AI-assisted documentation, in-office CT scanning, and advanced diagnostic procedures, such as in-office laryngeal biopsies, to improve accuracy and patient convenience.

He serves on the board of a regional hospital system and has played a role in creating partnerships to expand healthcare access in rural Virginia. Local media regularly interview him on sinonasal disease and balloon sinus dilation. He has published academic work on selective neck dissection, dermal allografts in reconstructive surgery, and tumor immunology.

Since 2014, Dr Scott Saffold has been 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.

He earned his undergraduate degree in Cell Biology from UC Berkeley in 1990. He graduated at the top of his class from Meharry Medical College, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. His postgraduate training included a General Surgery Internship at the University of New York at Buffalo, a research fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and an otolaryngology residency at Oregon Health Sciences University.

He sponsors a medical school scholarship at Meharry Medical College to support underrepresented students and holds an MBA from Old Dominion University/Strome College of Business in Norfolk, Virginia.

His academic achievements have been recognized through multiple awards, including honors in anatomy, pathology, hematology, internal medicine, and membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society.

Outside of medicine, Scott Saffold is a devoted father of two, a youth football coach, and an endurance athlete who has completed several marathons and triathlons, including two half-Ironman competitions. He also enjoys reading in his free time.