Rita L. Harvey MD

Dr. Harvey, a physiatrist, began her federal career in March 2012, serving as the Chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at the Central Alabama Veterans Healthcare System in Montgomery, AL, where she oversaw a staff of specialties, including Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Audiology, and PM&R administration.  She spearheaded the addition of Blind Rehabilitation in 2013 and Recreation Therapy the following year.

Additionally, Dr. Harvey served as Interim Associate Chief of Staff for Geriatric Extended Care and Rehabilitation from March 2014 until January 2015, Chief of Physical Medicine from April 2016 through April 2020, and Acting Chief of Staff from June 2021 through December 2021.

Dr. Harvey has more than 20 years of diverse work, management, and leadership experiences as a physician executive.  She is a self-directed professional who uses excellent communication, interpersonal and problem-solving skills to build consensus and promote teamwork.

Before joining VA, Dr. Harvey was the owner/physician of Health and Rehabilitation Specialists, P.C., a general physical medicine and rehabilitation practice serving the local communities of East Alabama.  Her physical medicine outpatient clinics established an amputee clinic, served as the community expert in the issuance of mobilized devices, operated the main electromyography (EMG) clinics for the communities and hospital, and operated a pain management clinic, which also assisted the local VA when they did not have an available physiatrist.

Dr. Harvey is a native Mississippian.  She and her husband, Tim, have four adult children.  She completed her undergraduate degree at Jackson State University, medical school at the University of California, Davis, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.  She is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Electrodiagnostic Medicine.  Additionally, Dr. Harvey continues to practice medicine as a physician in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service.