Amir Farooqi FACHE

His permanent position is Director/CEO at the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS), effective September 27, 2020. Prior to his appointment, he served on an interim basis starting October 2, 2019, and previously served on an acting basis from April 2019-June 2019.

Mr. Farooqi previously served as Associate Director/Chief Operations Officer (COO) at Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center (VAMC) starting July 2017 and on an acting basis prior to starting in November 2016. He was Acting Assistant Director at Atlanta VAMC (August-November 2016). Starting in October 2015, he served formally as Public Affairs Officer for VA Southeast Network (VISN 7), having joined VISN 7 in November 2013 as Operations Manager and simultaneously serving as Interim Strategic Planner and Interim Public Affairs Officer for extended periods until September 2015.

Before VISN 7, he was Senior Analyst in VHA Strategic Planning under the Office of the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Policy and Planning, where he coordinated VHA’s National Leadership Council Strategic Planning Summit, supported the VHA Strategic Plan, and coordinated VHA’s Performance Plan in VA’s Congressional Budget submission. He started his VA career as an Administrative Fellow at the Jackson VAMC in Mississippi.

Mr. Farooqi received the Secretary’s Hero Award for service during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Mr. Farooqi achieved Fellow status in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) in 2009, has been a Member of the VA ACHE Regent’s Advisory Council since 2016 (currently Awards and Recognition Chair), and is a Certified Mentor. He was recognized with the VA ACHE Regent’s 2020 Diversity and Inclusion Senior Leader Award as well as the Alabama ACHE Regent's 2021 Senior Leader Award and the ACHE Distinguished Service Award in 2023.

He is a graduate of the Executive Career Field Career Development Program (2008-2009), Leadership VA (2012-2013), and the Excellence in Government Fellow Program (2015-2016). He serves on the VHA GHATP Advisory Board. He is a Past President for ACHE of Alabama and current Board Member-At-Large, national Chair of the ACHE LGBTQ+ Health Leaders Community Committee, Board Member for the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board, and Board Member on the Alabama Head and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund Advisory Board.

He previously served terms on other boards including the Leadership VA Alumni Association, Pets Are Loving Support (PALS), Mississippi HeARTs Against AIDS, and Unity Mississippi. He has spoken on national and regional webinars and panels related to leading successful change in healthcare organizations as well as diversity and inclusion and health equity. He previously served terms on other boards including the Leadership VA Alumni Association, Pets Are Loving Support (PALS), Mississippi HeARTs Against AIDS, and Unity Mississippi.

He has spoken on national and regional webinars and panels related to leading successful change in healthcare organizations as well as diversity and inclusion and health equity. He has been interviewed and highlighted nationally (National Public Radio), statewide, and locally in media and professional publications and broadcasts related to COVID Pandemic efforts, vaccine efforts and hesitancy in minority populations. Originally from Texas where he earned his Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration, he is also a graduate of the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science and a Life Member of Mensa.