Dr. Smith attended the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa from 1964-1967 attaining honors in Phi Eta Sigma and Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated from the University of Alabama Birmingham Medical School with honors, and membership in Alpha Omega Alpha, the medical school honor society for academic achievement.

Upon graduation, Dr. Smith enlisted in the Army to perform an internship at Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco. He spent the next year as a general medical officer in Stuttgart, Germany before returning to San Francisco to complete a residency in dermatology at Letterman Army Medical Center (1973-1976).

Dr. Smith was Chief of Dermatology at Fort Knox, Kentucky (1976-1977) before being asked to serve at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., as Assistant Chief of Dermatology until 1979.

Jay and his wife Jane, moved to Montgomery upon discharge from the Army to establish a dermatology practice at Jackson Hospital where he has been serving the Montgomery community for forty years.