Medical Center Management
	Michael S. Finegan Medical Center Director (716) 862-8529 Michael S. Finegan became Director of the VA Western New York Healthcare System on September 8, 2003. Prior to assuming this position, he served as Director of VA Medical Center Butler, Pennsylvania since December 2000, and was lead director for administrative overhead reduction, primary care, and strategic planning in Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 4. In the VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York (VISN 2) Mr. Finegan served as Chief Financial and Operations Officer from 1997 to 2000 where he was responsible for the development, coordination, and monitoring of the Network's financial management and operations activities, as well as budget, strategic and capital planning for the Network. Mr. Finegan also served as Health Systems Specialist in the VISN 2 Office and has served as Staff Assistant to the Director, Site Manager for the Decision Support System, Revenue Manager, and Assistant Chief, Fiscal Service at the Albany VA Medical Center. Mr. Finegan has a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the State University of New York Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, and a Bachelor's Degree from Allegheny College. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the Healthcare Financial Managers Association, and the American Society of Public Administration. At VA Western New York Healthcare System, Mr. Finegan leads a staff of 1750 employees who provided top quality health care to more than 40,000 veterans of military service during the past year, as well as carrying on a tradition of world renowned clinical research and the training of America's future health care providers in a university-affiliated setting.
	Suzanne M. Klinker Associate Director (716) 862-8526 Suzanne M. Klinker joined the VA Western New York management team as associate medical center director in February 2007. Prior to this appointment, Ms. Klinker served as acting associate director at the VA medical center in Alexandria, Louisiana, and supervisory health system specialist and acting associate director at the Michael E. DeBakey VA medical center in Houston, Texas. She was responsible for performance improvement, veteran satisfaction, data warehousing, clinic access, and implementing new clinics. She previously worked at the VA Eastern Kansas health care system in Topeka and Leavenworth. She also serves on the Veterans Health Administration System-wide Ongoing Assessment and Review Strategy (SOARS) program team, and has authored several assessment guides. She earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Kansas State University and a master’s degree in management from Baker University. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Junior League of Houston, Houston Food Bank, and Kansas State University (KSU) Alumni Association.
	Dennis Heberling Associate Director Batavia: (585) 297-1049 Buffalo: (716) 862-6371 Dennis Heberling was appointed Assistant Medical Center Director of VA Western New York Healthcare System (VAWNYHS) April 29, 2007. As assistant director his role will be to lead the Batavia Division. Prior to this appointment Mr. Heberling served VAWNYHS as the acting Associate Medical Center Director from 1998 to 2004 and 2006 to 2007; as Facility Manager from 1998 to 2007. He had a lead role in the consolidation of VA Batavia and Buffalo to VAWNYHS; in VAWNYHS’s transition from in-patient to out-patient care focus; lead VAWNYHS Capital Asset and Realignment Enhance System (CARES) initiative, including creating an enhanced-use lease at the Batavia Division. Heberling serves on the Veterans Health Administration System-wide Ongoing Assessment and Review Strategy program. He has served as a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives; as a member and National Board representative for the American Society of Healthcare Environmental Service. In 1996 Heberling was selected as Veterans Administration Chief, Environmental Management Manager of the year. Mr. Heberling earned his Master’s Degree in Public Health Administration from State University of New York at Brockport and an undergraduate degree at State University of New York at Buffalo in Business Administration.
	Miguel Rainstein M.D. Acting Chief of Staff (716) 862-8530 Dr. Miguel Rainstein was appointed to his present position as Acting Chief of Staff, VA Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY on April 20, 2008. Previous to this appointment, he held the position of Chief of Surgery at this facility. As Acting Chief of Staff, Dr. Rainstein has the responsibility to provide quality patient care and to coordinate all professional activities to fulfill that mission. He supervises the operation of both the Buffalo and Batavia sites, as well as community based outpatient clinics in Jamestown, Dunkirk, Niagara Falls, Lockport, Lackawanna, Olean and Warsaw. Dr. Rainstein received his undergraduate degree and his medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires. He completed his surgical residency at Millard Fillmore Hospital in 1979. He is currently Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and also holds membership in the Buffalo Surgical Society. He was the Chief of Surgery at Kenmore Mercy Hospital for 14 year before coming to the VA.
	Lizabeth M. Weiss, R.N., C.N.A. Associate Director for Patient/Nursing Services (716) 862-8537 Ms. Lizabeth M. Weiss, Registered Nurse (RN) was assigned to the Nurse Executive position at VA Western New York Healthcare System beginning July 2000. From January through July 2000 she functioned in this role as an Acting Nurse Executive. Prior to this assignment, she served in progressively responsible roles including staff nurse, Head Nurse, Associate Nurse Executive, Customer Service Liaison and Care Line Manager in Behavior Health at VA Western New York Healthcare System. Ms. Weiss received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from D'Youville College, Buffalo, New York and her Master of Science in Nursing from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Board Certified Nurse Administrator. She has received the Certificate in Healthcare Leadership from Cornell University, School of industrial and Labor Relations, a statutory college of the State University of New York. As the Nurse Executive, Ms. Weiss is accountable for the delivery of all nursing care in VA Western New York Healthcare System provided at the Batavia and Buffalo sites. She supervises the operation of the community based outpatient clinics in Jamestown, Dunkirk, Niagara Falls, Lockport and Olean as well as two satellite clinics located in Buffalo and Warsaw. She plans, develops and maintains a comprehensive program, inclusive of professional nursing practices, to ensure compliance with Department of Veterans Affairs directives, The Joint Commission standards, National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation (CARF) and confidentiality regulations. Ms. Weiss assures the institution's implementation and maintenance of standards for professional and para-professional nursing practices and forecasts requirements necessary to maintain and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of clinical care. She serves as a key policy level resource to top management and other operating officials. Ms. Weiss uses advanced clinical knowledge and skills to serve as an internal consultant to key management officials for the compilation and analysis of clinical and administrative data, quality of care assessments and resources utilization for the medical center. Ms. Weiss is currently an Adjunct Faculty member of the School of Nursing at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She has been a guest lecturer at Daemon College, Buffalo, New York, and with the International Institute for Research based in Chicago and New York.

Buffalo VA Medical Center

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