Aileen Naungayan MSN, RN, NE-BC

Before this appointment, Ms. Naungayan served as the Chief Nurse for Acute Care Hospital Operations at VA Palo Alto health care. In that role, she oversaw nursing leadership for Critical Care units (2), Medical Surgical (3), the Emergency Room, Case Management, Project RED, Telemetry, and Avasys.

Ms. Naungayan began her career at VA Palo Alto health care in 2008 through a new graduate nursing program. With extensive clinical experience in Acute Care, including Medical-Surgical, Stepdown, Telemetry, and Post-Procedural Care, she has advanced through various nursing leadership roles. These include Nurse Manager, Assistant Chief Nurse, Chief Nurse, and Acting Deputy Nurse Executive.

Ms. Naungayan earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from San Jose State University in 2007 and her Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on Health Systems Management from Johns Hopkins University in 2020. She obtained her Nurse Executive board certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in 2023.

Ms. Naungayan is renowned for her dedication to servant leadership, mentoring, and developing clinical nurse leaders to advance nursing practice and care for our Veterans. As a LEAN leader, she has worked closely with ACHO and the multidisciplinary team to employ innovative solutions and strategies aimed at furthering VA’s mission of providing exceptional care to our Veterans. Through her completion of LSS Black Belt training, Ms. Naungayan has made significant contributions to advancing the facility’s strategic priorities and key initiatives, ultimately optimizing patient outcomes.