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VA Desert Pacific Healthcare Network

 

New Medical Center Director Appointed for Northern Arizona VA Health Care System

Prescott, Arizona — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jean J. Gurga as the new Director of the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System (NAVAHCS). Ms. Gurga will oversee the delivery of health care to approximately 29,600 Veterans and a budget of over $224 million.

"We are very happy to bring Ms. Gurga on board as the new Director at the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System," said Michael W. Fisher, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 22 Director. "During her tenure in Northern Arizona, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership during the COVID-19 emergency, and I believe she has earned the trust of many internal and external stakeholders. We anticipate Ms. Gurga will begin her appointment on August 2, 2020."

Ms. Gurga has more than 23 years of health care experience, with a track record of progressive professional development and career growth spanning field management experience, operations support, and program management. She was appointed Interim Medical Center Director at NAVAHCS effective January 5, 2020. In this position, Ms. Gurga oversees a staff of over 1,200 and all aspects of this tertiary care hospital, its five Community Based Outpatient Clinics and six VA Outreach Clinics, and the full range of their primary care, specialty care, mental health, and allied and rehabilitative services.

Prior to her appointment as Interim Director at NAVAHCS, Ms. Gurga had served as the Associate Director (AD) at the VA Long Beach (CA) Healthcare System since December 2017. As the AD, she oversaw facility operations for Engineering, Fiscal, Health Administration, Human Resources, and Supply Chain. Ms. Gurga previously served as the Chief, Office of Quality, Safety & Value, for the VA Palo Alto (CA) Healthcare System since December 2017. One of Ms. Gurga's proudest accomplishments at VA Palo Alto was, as an occupational therapist and Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist, teaching returning Veterans to drive during their recovery from traumatic brain injury.

Ms. Gurga holds a Master of Arts degree in Occupational Therapy from Tufts University-Boston School of Occupational Therapy and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics from Mills College. She has graduated from VHA's Healthcare Leadership Program, and from the Partnership for Public Service's Excellence in Government Fellows Program. Ms. Gurga is a member of the American College of Health Care Executives.

The Northern Arizona VA Health Care System (NAVAHCS) is a Joint Commission-accredited, complexity level three facility serving approximately 29,600 Veterans across northern Arizona. NAVAHCS provides a continuum of primary and secondary level medical, rehabilitative and long-term care to Veterans residing in northern and central Arizona. Acute medical care consists of primary and secondary inpatient medicine and ambulatory care, which includes general medicine, ambulatory procedures, and selected specialized medical clinics. Its Emergency Department is open 24 hours/seven days a week. The VA Medical Center is in Prescott, Arizona, and Community Based Outpatient Clinics are in Anthem, Flagstaff, Cottonwood, Kingman and Lake Havasu City, Arizona. NAVAHCS has six VA Outreach Clinics: Holbrook, Page, Tuba City, Polacca, Chinle and Kayenta, Arizona. The NAVAHCS catchment area covers more than 65,000 square miles.


Posted 7/6/2020





2020

New Medical Center Director Named for Phoenix VA Health Care System - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Alyshia Smith as the new executive director of the Phoenix VA Health Care System (PVAHCS), effective June 21, 2020. Dr. Smith will oversee the delivery of health care to more than 132,000 Veterans and a budget of over $800 million. (06/23/2020)

VA Desert Pacific provides staffing to support vulnerable patients in Los Angeles area nursing homes - The VA Desert Pacific Healthcare System (VISN 22) is providing healthcare personnel to support non-Veteran patients in nursing homes in Los Angeles County, California. (05/06/2020)

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2019

New Medical Center Director Named for Southern Arizona VA Health Care System - VA Desert Pacific Healthcare Network announces new healthcare system director. Jennifer S. Gutowski brings leadership, proven experience to Southern Arizona. (12/27/2019)

New Medical Center Director Named for VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System - VA Desert Pacific Healthcare Network announces new healthcare system director. Steven E. Braverman, M.D. brings leadership, proven experience to Greater Los Angeles. (08/26/2019)

New Medical Center Director Named for VA Loma Linda Healthcare System - VA Desert Pacific Healthcare Network announces new healthcare system director. Karandeep Singh Sraon brings leadership, proven experience to Loma Linda. (03/05/2019)

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