GEC Leadership
Dr. Kelso together with Office of Geriatrics & Extended Care staff, lead efforts to provide programs and services in a range of health care settings, such as acute care, home care, extended care, purchased home care, hospice and palliative care and community- and facility-based care.
Catherine McVearry Kelso, MD, MS
Deputy Executive Director, VA Office of Geriatrics & Extended Care
Veterans Health Administration
Dr. Catherine Kelso serves as the Deputy Executive Director for Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) in the Office of Patient Care Services. As the Deputy Executive Director for GEC, Dr. Kelso provides national leadership to and has advisory and consultative responsibility for all VHA geriatric and long-term care programs and initiatives.
She joined VHA in 2006 at the VISN 6 Richmond VAMC and has provided exceptional clinical health care to Veterans and their families. She led education and training for interdisciplinary trainees in collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University as an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine.
Most recently, Dr. Kelso served as the Associate Chief of Staff for Geriatrics and Extended Care at the Central Virginia VA Medical Center in Richmond, VA.
Prior to joining VA, Dr Kelso joined Virginia Commonwealth University, Division of Geriatric Medicine. Her early career focus included care delivery in community nursing homes, inpatient geriatric consultation and serving as Course Director in the VCU School of Medicine. In 2004, she received a Geriatric Academic Career Award and focused her professional development and expertise in palliative care, communication, bioethics and leadership.
Dr. Kelso received her medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College and completed her Master of Arts in Bioethics and Health Policy at Loyola University Chicago. She also holds a BSN from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and a Master of Science in Primary Care Nursing/Adult Nurse Practitioner from George Washington University School of Medicine.
