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Phoenix VA selects Dr. Alyshia Smith as new executive director

Posted 6/22/20

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced the appointment of Dr. Alyshia Smith as the new executive director of the Phoenix VA Health Care System, effective Sunday.

Dr. Smith will oversee the …

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Phoenix VA selects Dr. Alyshia Smith as new executive director

Posted

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced the appointment of Dr. Alyshia Smith as the new executive director of the Phoenix VA Health Care System, effective Sunday.

Dr. Smith will oversee the delivery of health care to more than 132,000 Veterans and a budget of over $800 million, according to a release.

“We are very happy to bring Dr. Smith on board as the new director at the Phoenix VA Health Care System,” stated Michael W. Fisher, Veterans Integrated Service Network 22 Director. “During her tenure in Phoenix, I believe she has earned the trust of many internal and external stakeholders.”

Dr. Smith joined the VA in 2010 and has a track record of progressive professional development and career growth spanning field management experience, operations support, and program management, the release states. She has been serving as the interim director of the Phoenix VA Health Care System since October. In this position, she oversees a staff of over 3,500 and all aspects of this tertiary care hospital and its 10 outpatient clinics, and the full range of their primary care, specialty care, mental health and allied health and rehabilitative services.

Prior to her appointment as interim director in Phoenix, Dr. Smith had served as its associate director for Patient Care Services and nurse executive since September 2015. As the ADPCS, she was directly responsible for the leadership and strategic direction of more than 1,350 staff in Nursing, Social Work, Sterile Processing Service and the Chaplain Service. In 2019, Dr. Smith also served as the deputy chief nursing officer for VA’s Veterans Health Administration, with more than 100,000 staff in its Nursing Corps.

Dr. Smith began her VA career in 2010 as the deputy chief nurse at the Washington D.C. VA Medical Center, where she was responsible for nursing operations. Before joining the VA, she served for 20 years in a large private hospital system in the areas of nursing and nursing leadership.

Dr. Smith earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, her Master of Science and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees from the University of Maryland, and a Post Masters Certificate in Business and Health Care from Johns Hopkins University. She has served as clinical faculty with nursing programs at Georgetown University and the University of Maryland. Dr. Smith is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Nurse Executive, Advanced. She is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Leaders and the American College of Healthcare Executives.

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to lead the Phoenix VA Health Care System as Medical Center Director,” Dr. Smith stated. “With the continued support of the Veteran community and Veteran Service Organizations, the Phoenix VA is poised to build on the current momentum of improvement and innovation. I look forward to being a part of these efforts, continuing to make a positive difference for Veterans in this community.”