Dorene M. Sommers RN, BSN, MBA, VHA-CM

As the Associate Director, Patient Care Services, Ms. Sommers joins the Medical Center Director in the overall management efforts with the responsibility for nursing and administrative duties delegated to her.

She is involved in budget formulation and execution, including workload planning and utilization management; recruitment and retention of nursing staff; accreditation and quality management activities; and adherence to nursing practice and ethical standards. She is responsible for the nursing care provided throughout the medical center and in the associated Community Based Outpatient Clinics and she provides oversight for Nutrition and Food Services, Chaplain Services, and the Sterile Processing Services.

Ms. Sommers joined Erie VA Medical Center in January 2007 as the Associate Nurse Executive. Prior to that appointment, she was the Nurse Manager of the Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care Unit at the Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, Virginia. In addition, she planned and implemented the opening of a Thoracic Surgery Care Unit. For several years she enjoyed working as a traveling nurse throughout the United States.

Ms. Sommers received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1997. Later, she earned a Master of Business Administration Degree from Averett University in Danville, Virginia. She is a member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, American College of Healthcare Executives, Nursing Organization of Veterans Affairs, and Sigma Theta Tau.