Meet Our Physicians

Dr. Leon Smith

Family Medicine Physician & Adolescent Medicine Physician

Dr. Smith is originally from Ozark, Alabama. Dr. Smith received his B.S. in Biology, Magna Cum Laude, from Birmingham Southern College. He subsequently received his Medical Doctorate from the University of Alabama, School Of Medicine. He completed a 3-year residency in Family Medicine at Tallahassee Memorial Regional Medical Center. While in residency, Dr. Smith met Dr. Stewart Williams. The two went on to establish Valdosta Family Medicine in 1989. Recognizing the need for urgent care in Valdosta, Drs. Smith and Williams established the area’s oldest and largest private urgent care center. Dr. Smith is a Board-Certified Family Physician and Adolescent Medicine Specialist. He is also a clinical professor at the Medical College of Georgia, a clinical assistant professor at Mercer School of Medicine and a clinical assistant professor at the PCOM Georgia Campus. Dr. Smith is a member and Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. For ten years, Dr. Smith played trumpet as a member of the Valdosta State University Faculty Brass Quintet.

He is married to Valerie Smith, a classically trained pianist and collaborative pianist for the Valdosta State University and the pianist/keyboardist for the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra. They occasionally perform together and enjoy attending musical event and concerts. Together they have seven children and five grandchildren. Dr. Smith is on staff at both South Georgia Medical Center and Smith-Northview Hospital.

Dr. Stewart Williams

Family Medicine Physician

Dr. Williams is originally from Valdosta, Georgia. He received his Bachelor of Science in biology, graduating summa cum laude. He then attended the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta where he received his medical doctorate. Dr. Williams completed his family practice residency at Tallahassee Memorial Regional Medical Center from 1986-1989, after which he returned to Valdosta to practice.

He founded Valdosta Family Medicine with Dr. Leon Smith in 1989. Dr. Williams is board certified with the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Family Medicine. He is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Georgia Academy of Family Practice, and the Medical Association of Georgia.
He is an Assistant Clinical Professor at both the Medical College of Georgia and Mercer University Medical School. Dr. Williams is on staff at Smith Northview Hospital.

In his spare time, Dr. Williams enjoys spending his time with his children, Erin and Daniel. He also sings in the choir at Northside Baptist Church.

Dr. David Pierce

Family Medicine Physician

Dr. Pierce is a native of Lakeland, Georgia. He received his Bachelor of Science in biology at Valdosta State College. He then attended the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta and completed his internship and residency in family medicine at the Medical Center in Columbus, Georgia. While living in Columbus, Dr. Pierce was also on staff in the emergency department at Doctor’s Hospital.
He is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Medical College of Georgia.
Dr. Pierce returned to the Valdosta area in 1993 and joined Valdosta Family Medicine. He and his wife, Cecilia, have four children: Jessie, Justin, Rachael, and Caleb. In addition to a full family life, Dr. Pierce enjoys fishing, woodworking, and gardening.

Dr. Craig Bishop

Family Medicine Physician & Vegan/Vegetarian Nutrition

Dr. Bishop is originally from West Virginia, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, from Shepherd University. Dr. Bishop earned his medical degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Magnum Cum Ladue. He completed his residency at Northside Heart Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Dr. Bishop then moved to Georgia to join Valdosta Family Medicine. Dr. Bishop is board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. He is a clinical professor at the Medical College of Georgia and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Georgia and South Georgia campuses.

Dr. Bishop is a member of the Georgia Osteopathic Medical Association and the Academy of Family Physicians. His interests in medicine include plant-based nutrition, emotional well-being, adolescent medicine, and preventative medicine.

Dr. Daniel Bennett

Family Medicine Physician

Dr. Bennett is from Adel, Georgia. He completed all of his basic schooling in the Cook County School Systems before attending the University of Georgia in Athens where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biological engineering. He then became the first physician in his family, earning his medical degree at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

After medical school, Dr. Bennett had the privilege of returning to Georgia for his residency, completing all three years at Floyd Medical Center in Rome, Georgia. Dr. Bennett is board certified by, and a member of, the American Board of Family Medicine. He is also a member of the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians.

Dr. Bennett currently lives in Valdosta with his wife, Drew, daughter, Reese, and son, Jack – all of whom he drags out fishing any time he can.

Dr. Karly Bishop

Family Medicine & Osteopathic Manual Medicine

Dr. Bishop moved to Valdosta with her family at the start of her high school career. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree at Valdosta State University, graduating with the distinction of Magna Cum Laude. She then attended medical school at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Suwanee, GA. Dr. Bishop completed her Family Medicine Residency at Carolinas HealthCare System (now Atrium Health), with a focus on rural community medicine. She then completed a fellowship in Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine at Maine Dartmouth where she subsequently served as precepting faculty. Dr. Bishop also worked as an inpatient osteopathic consultant to Maine Medical Center in Portland, while simultaneously serving as attending physician at a rural FQHC Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic.

In 2021, Dr. Bishop returned to Valdosta to fulfill a lifelong dream of working alongside her father, who is also a physician. She is board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. Her interests in medicine include osteopathic manual medicine, preventative medicine, and fostering resilience through lifestyle and education. Dr. Bishop also serves as the Chief Productivity Officer at Valdosta Family Medicine and as the Director of Osteopathic Education at AdventHealth Internal Medicine Residency in Rome, GA.