Leadership Team
Steven Braverman, MD | 310-268-3132
Interim Network Director
Dr. Steven Braverman was appointed as the Interim VISN 22 Network Director effective May 1, 2023. Dr. Braverman currently serves as the VA Greater Los Angeles Medical Center Director, since September 29, 2019. Prior to this appointment, he also served as the Hospital Director of the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital for three years. A native of Baltimore, MD, he retired from the Army on October 31, 2016, after 29+ years of service in the Army Medical Corps as a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician. Dr. Braverman’s Army leadership assignments include Director (Commander), Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Director (Cdr.), Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Fort Hood, TX, and Director (Cdr.), Ireland Army Community Hospital, Fort Knox, KY. Staff positions include Chief Consultant to the Army Surgeon General and Chief, Program Analysis and Evaluation. He deployed to Iraq as the Multi-National Corps–Iraq Deputy Surgeon for Clinical Operations in 2008-2009. Dr. Braverman is Board Certified by the American Board of PM&R and served as an examiner for their oral board certification exam. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Academic Physiatrists, the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, and the American Board of Medical Acupuncture. Dr. Braverman’s military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and Iraq Campaign Medal. He is a recipient of the “A” designator award for professional expertise, the Order of Military Medical Merit, and the General Claire L. Chennault Award for teaching excellence.
Cynthia Abair | 858-642-3205
Acting Deputy Network Director
Ms. Cynthia Abair was appointed as the Acting VISN 22 Deputy Network Director (DND) effective March 20, 2023. Ms. Abair is currently the Associate Director of the VA San Diego Health Care System. As acting DND, Ms. Abair will oversee Fiscal, Human Resources, Capital Assets, Supply Chain, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Law Enforcement and Prosthetics. Ms. Abair has also served as the Associate Director of the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System from February 2005 to July 2007. Previously, Ms. Abair was a member of the Network 22 staff in Long Beach, California, from July 1, 2003, until February 2005, where she served as Acting Network Operations Officer and the Acting Network Human Resources Manager. Before joining the Network, she held the position of Special Assistant to the Director at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System from December 2000 through June 2003. Additionally, Ms. Abair served as the Executive Assistant to the Director at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System from June 1997 to December 2000. She began her VA career in 1987 as an Administrative Resident at VA Long Beach; she completed the Health System Specialist Training program and then served as the Medical Service Administrative Officer until assuming the Executive Assistant position to the Director. Ms. Abair completed the Executive Career Field (ECF) Development program as a member of the Class of 2002 and Leadership VA 2003. She graduated from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, with a Bachelor of Science degree and from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, with a Master of Health Administration. She is a native of Memphis, Tennessee and is married to Tom Abair, a registered nurse, a veteran, and currently serving as a Lt. Commander in the US Navy Reserves.
David Keele | 562-826-5920
Network Chief Financial Officer
Currently serving as the Chief Financial Officer of the VA Medical Center in Long Beach, CA. Responsible for the full range of financial management services for a major VA Medical Center. Served as a Senior Accountant responsible for major functions of the accounting program for the Veterans Health Administration's VISN 22 Network of Medical Centers. School Director of a Marine Corps Formal School leading 132 faculty graduating 600 students annually with a focus on academic, technical, and personal excellence. Seven years experience leading organizations of up to 300 employees with operating budgets up to $600K and over $18 million in assets and facilities. Experienced financial analyst who developed the programming and budgeting (Program Objective Memorandum) for the annual $10-12 billion Marine Corps manpower account (60% of budget) in accordance with Defense Department Financial Management Regulations. Thorough knowledge of and experience with the Planning, Programming, and Budgeting Execution System (PPBES). Trained in Continuous Process Improvement (Lean Six Sigma). Licensed CPA.
Panneer Selvam
Interim Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Ayyasamy Panneer Selvam serves as the VISN 22 Interim Chief Medical Officer effective January 15, 2023. Dr. Ayyasamy Panneer Selvam, MD is the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for VA Heartland Network (VISN 15), a position he has held since April 2021. Prior to joining VISN 15, he served as the Chief of Staff at the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System, Prescott, AZ. Dr. Selvam earned a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Stanley Medical College, Madras, India and a Doctor of Medicine from the Madras Medical College, Madras, India. He completed residency program in Internal Medicine at the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1997. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. He has over 25 years’ experience in clinical practice, clinical administration and teaching. Dr. Selvam has held leadership positions in the VA with extensive expertise at multiple levels of the organization including at the section, service chief, facility Executive Leadership and VISN Senior Executive Leadership level. He is a 2007 graduate of the VA Health Care Leadership Institute (HCLI). He then served as a coach for HCLI and as a mentor for Executive Career Field (ECF) candidates. Dr. Selvam has received many awards in his career to include: Distinguished Service Award from the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Arizona Chapter; Staff Physician of the Year at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, Columbia, MO; outstanding teaching awards including Excellence in Clinical Education and Student Teaching Award for Outstanding Clerkship Attending Physician, University of Missouri-Columbia.
Kerri B. Wilhoite
Chief Nursing Officer
Dr. Kerri Wilhoite was appointed as the VISN 22 Chief Nursing Officer effective April 24, 2022. In this new VISN 22 position, Dr. Wilhoite will have oversight of Sterile Processing Service (SPS), VISN Call Center (Administrative, Virtual Care, Nurse Advice Line, and Pharmacy), Nursing Practice of Clinical Resource Hub (CRH), Geriatrics and Extended Care, and Care Coordination and Integrated Case Management. Dr. Wilhoite has been employed by VHA since January 1998 holding a wide variety of clinical and leadership roles. She most recently served as the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) Associate Director of Patient Care Services/Nurse Executive (ADPCS/NE). Dr. Wilhoite worked at the Northern Arizona VA Healthcare System (NAVAHCS), Durham VAHCS, Washington, DC, and Tennessee Valley Healthcare System during her 20-year VA career. She has been a staff nurse, psychiatric nurse manager, Local Recovery Coordinator, Mental Health Field Advisor, and Associate Chief Nurse at Durham, North Carolina.. Additionally, she has been a strategic partner with stakeholders to improve Veteran outcomes and enhance the workplace for employees across the enterprise. In her current role as ADPCS she collaborates with her peers, in the ELT, to improve Veteran experience, enhance clinical quality outcomes, support clinical staff through a shared governance approach and incorporate the Caring Theory within her division. Dr. Wilhoite received her BSN in 1997, MBA/with a Heath Care Management emphasis in 2005, and DNP in 2014. Her passion for high quality clinical care and leadership is evident through her academic accomplishments and preparations.
