Jersenia Torres MHSA

Ms. Torres brings extensive experience in strategic planning, healthcare operations, and organizational leadership within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Prior to joining the VACHS executive team, Ms. Torres served as Interim Assistant Director for Operations and Chief Planning Officer for the VA Rocky Mountain Network (VISN 19). In these capacities, she led strategic and operational planning for the network and oversaw administrative programs that influenced facility operations. She also developed system-wide and market-level service delivery plans to ensure effective distribution of healthcare services across eight healthcare systems and multiple stand-alone programs.

Ms. Torres is also familiar with VACHS operations, having served as Acting Assistant Director two years prior to her current appointment. Her leadership extends to national initiatives, including her central role in planning and executing the construction of the Tulsa VA Medical Center, the first hospital built under the CHIP IN Act.

Ms. Torres’s tenure in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) includes several leadership positions in Washington, D.C. From 2012 to 2018, she held Health Systems Specialist roles in the VHA Office of Network Support, Office of the Chief of Staff, Office of Business Operations, and Office of Public Health. She began her VA career at the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System in Nashville, serving as a Health Systems Specialist and Facility Planner from 2009 to 2013.

While at VHA Central Office, Ms. Torres led several major initiatives. She oversaw the redesign and implementation of the Issue Brief system, directed the development of the Travel Trip Pack system, and established the VHA Client Relations Office, which strengthened VHA’s responsiveness by centralizing and streamlining processes for addressing concerns from Veterans, employees, and other stakeholders.

Ms. Torres holds a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from the University of South Florida and a Master of Health Services Administration from the University of Puerto Rico. She is also board-certified in Health Services Administration by the Puerto Rico Department of Health.