Joan Clifford DNP, RN, FACHE, NEA-BC

Clifford has held key leadership positions at Veterans Administration Central Office as Acting Deputy Chief Nursing Officer and Acting Deputy Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Access. Clifford had previously served as Deputy Nurse Executive, VA Boston Healthcare System and has more than 37 years of experience as a registered nurse with VA. Prior to her current appointment, Clifford served as Deputy Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Access to Care for the Veterans Health Administration. 

Clifford is a leader in systems/flow improvement and coaching in VHA at the local, regional, and national levels. She is certified as a Fellow in Healthcare Management by the American College of Healthcare Executives and Nursing Executive, Advanced by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.  

Clifford has a certificate of completion from the Dartmouth Institute Microsystem Academy Coaching Program, a VHA Lean certification at the Green Belt level, is a VHA certified mentor at the Fellow level, and a graduate of the VHA Executive Career Field Development Program. Her professional affiliations include Fellow, American College of Healthcare Executives; Member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing; Member, ANA-Massachusetts, program planning committee; Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs, president from 2010-2013; American Nurses Association, Member, American Organization of Nurse Executives; Member, Organization of Nurse Leaders, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Clifford holds a bachelor's degree in nursing from Salem State College, a master's in management from Emmanuel College, and a doctorate in nursing practice from Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Health Professions.