John Smieska

John Smieska is a highly experienced physician assistant with a strong emphasis in psychiatry and a multifaceted background in the arts and education. Currently serving as a Physician Assistant with a psychiatry focus at REACH Medical and a Professor of Physician Assistant Studies at Ithaca College, John has previously held leadership roles such as Medical Director of Mental Health Services for TST BOCES and has extensive experience in emergency medicine and long-term care. An MFA graduate from Ithaca College, John specializes in writing, poetry, and lens-based arts, functioning as a poet, conceptual artist, and experimental filmmaker. John’s educational credentials include degrees from Grand Valley State University and Tompkins Cortland Community College, underscoring a robust foundation in both the medical and creative fields.