Judith Johnson-Mekota FACHE

As Director, Ms. Johnson-Mekota is responsible for all aspects of VA health care delivery in eastern Iowa and northwest Illinois. The Iowa City VA Health Care System provides acute and specialized medical and surgical services, residential outpatient treatment programs for substance abuse and post-traumatic stress, and a full range of mental health and long-term care services, sub-acute and restorative rehabilitation services. 

She began her career with the US Department of Veterans Affairs in 1992 in nursing leadership positions. Throughout her VA career, she has held positions of increasing responsibility at facilities in Iowa, Minnesota, and Kansas. Prior to being appointed Director for Iowa City VA Health Care System, Ms. Johnson-Mekota served as the Director for VA Central Iowa in De Moines, Iowa, for two years.  Prior to that, she served as the Deputy Network Director for the VA Midwest Health Care Network in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a position she held since 2010. 

Ms. Johnson-Mekota holds a baccalaureate degree in Nursing from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and a master’s degree in Nursing Administration/Informatics from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. She completed VA Health Care Leadership Institute in 2005 and is a 2007 graduate of the VA Executive Career Field program.