VA Central Iowa announces new director
PRESS RELEASE
September 5, 2023
Des Moines , IA — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced the appointment of Lisa R. Curnes, MHA, BSN, RN as the new director of the VA Central Iowa Health Care System effective in Mid-October.
Lisa Curnes has been with the VA for more than 29 years and currently serves as the director for the Black Hills/Fort Meade VA Health Care System in South Dakota.
“Ms. Curnes brings her strong leadership qualities and extensive experience to VA Central Iowa Health Care System.” said Robert McDivitt, VA Midwest Health Care Network Executive Director. “I am certain that the experience she has received through her career with the VA as an associate director and a director has prepared her to provide the leadership and guide the employees and volunteers, our health care partners, the community, and most important the Veterans we are honored to serve.”
Ms. Curnes holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Iowa, and a Master of Health Administration from Des Moines University.
The VA Central Iowa Health Care System (VACIHCS) is a level 2 Department of Veterans Affairs health care organization with inpatient services located in Des Moines and Community-Based Outpatient Clinics located in Knoxville, Marshalltown, Mason City, Fort Dodge, and Carroll, Iowa. The organization serves Veterans from 42 counties in central Iowa and northern Missouri and operates acute, long-term care, and domiciliary beds. The Des Moines Medical Center campus provides secondary medical, surgical, psychiatric and substance abuse inpatient and outpatient care, home care services, rehabilitation, mental health, and palliative nursing home care. An additional clinic in South Des Moines provides primary care.
VA Midwest Health Care Network, also known as Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 23, is one of 18 Health Care Systems in the VA Veterans Health Administration. The Network serves more than 440,000 enrolled Veterans residing in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and portions of Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Health care services are delivered through an integrated system of nine hospitals, 69 community-based outpatient clinics, eight community living centers and four domiciliary residential rehabilitation treatment programs. The Network employs more than 15,000 full-time employees and has an annual operating budget of more than $5 billion.
