Derek Szafranski, PhD, MBA, serves as the Associate Medical Center Director, for the Orlando VA Healthcare System (OVAHCS).
Dr. Szafranski joined OVAHCS in May, 2022 as the Assistant Medical Center Director. He oversaw Environmental Management Services, Fisher House, Medical Media, Nutrition and Food Service, Prosthetics, SharePoint and Supply Chain Management. He had dotted line supervision of the Office of Information and Technology and Veteran’s Canteen Services. From September 2022 – May, 2023, Dr. Szafranski served as Interim Associate Medical Center Director. In May, 2023 Dr. Szafranski was selected as the permanent Associate Medical Center Director. He currently oversees Emergency Management, Facility Management Service, Health Administration Service, Healthcare Technology Management, Police Services, Privacy Office, Radiation Safety, and Safety Services. He also has dotted line supervision of Human Resources.
Prior to joining OVAHCS, Dr. Szafranski served as the Acting Assistant Medical Center Director at the Ralph H. Johnson (RHJ) VAHCS. He oversaw the Chaplin Office, Community Care, Community Engagement and Veteran Experience, Environmental Management Services, Fisher House, Nutrition and Food, Information System Security Officer, Police Services, Supply Chain Management, Privacy Office, and Prosthetics. He had dotted line responsibilities of the Office of Information and Technology and Veterans Canteen Services. Dr. Szafranski first joined RHJ VAHCS as a staff psychologist in the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy clinic in 2014. In 2017, he transitioned to the Section Chief of General Mental Health and in 2020, became the Division Chief of Ambulatory Mental Health Services.
In 2007, Dr. Szafranski graduated magna cum laude from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in psychology, while on a full football scholarship. He obtained a Master of Arts in psychology from University of the Pacific in 2010 and a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Houston in 2014. Dr. Szafranski completed his clinical internship at the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in 2014 at the Boston Consortium and remains involved in PTSD clinical trial research. To further his management training, Dr. Szafranski earned a Master of Business Administration with a healthcare emphasis in 2020 and graduated from the Health Care Leadership Development Program in 2021. He is also a member of the American College of Health Care Executives (ACHE).