Elizabeth Katrancha PhD RN

Dr. Katrancha was named Chief Quality Officer of the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Altoona, PA, in May 2024.

As CQO, Dr. Katrancha is tasked with the oversight of all Quality and Patient Safety Programing including, Risk Management, Patient Safety, Infection Control, Utilization Management, High Reliability Programming, Accreditation Readiness and Compliance (Joint Commission, Long Term Care, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)  and The Office Of Inspector General (OIG))  and Systems Redesign within the main facility and five Community Based Outpatient Clinics throughout a 14-county catchment area. 

Prior to her current appointment, Dr. Katrancha served as the Director of Case Management at Select Medical Hospital in Johnstown. Since beginning her career in healthcare in 1995 as an emergency room RN, she has spent 29 years in various roles in healthcare, including staff nurse, school nurse and Program Director/Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown’s baccalaureate nursing program. 

Dr. Katrancha earned a Doctorate in Nursing Practice as an Adult-Geriatric Clinical Nurse Specialist from the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, a master’s degree in nursing education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. She is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ), a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) and a Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (CCNS).