New Permanent Director Named for Detroit VAMC
PRESS RELEASE
August 28, 2023
Saginaw , MI — The Department of Veterans Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Cauley as the permanent Director for the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Detroit, effective August 27, 2023.
Chris has served in this role in an acting capacity since March 11, 2023, and has served as the Director of the Aleda E. Lutz VAMC in Saginaw, Michigan, since 2021.
“Chris has sound leadership qualities and proven experience,” said Laura Ruzick, Director of Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 10, the office that oversees VA Medical Centers across Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. “I am certain he will continue to be a valuable asset to the John D. Dingell VAMC’s employees, volunteers, community partners, and most importantly, to the Veterans we are so honored to serve.”
Cauley has more than 27 years of experience in leadership, prosthetics, and patient education coordination. He first joined the VA family as a Kinesiotherapist for the VA Illiana Health Care System in Danville, Illinois in 1995. He went on serve as Illiana VA’s patient health coordinator before named Chief of Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service at James H. Quillen VAMC in Mountain Home, Tennessee in 2005. Cauley came to VISN 10 as a Health System Specialist for VA Ann Arbor Health Care System in 2009, Associate Director of the Aleda E. Lutz VAMC, Saginaw in 2016, and finally the Associate Director VA Ann Arbor Health Care System in 2018 prior to his appointment as Saginaw’s Director.
Cauley earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois and a Master’s Degree in Health Administration from Independence University.
Cauley is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and is board-certified in healthcare management. He is a certified Mentor through VHA and is a graduate of the 2012 VHA Health Care Leadership Development Program (HCLDP) Cohort. He is a member of the National HCLDP Advisory Board and serves as a Coach for HCLDP.
Associate Director, Carol Dopp, will continue to serve as Aleda E. Lutz VAMC's Acting Executive Director, until a permanent Director is selected.
The Aleda E. Lutz VAMC in Saginaw, Michigan operates an 81-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation Community Living Center. It provides care to over 40,126 Veterans in a 35-county geographic area, from mid-Michigan to the Mackinac Bridge. Veterans can also receive care at one of our nine VA Community Based Outpatient Clinics located throughout Michigan. More information about this VA can be found at https://www.va.gov/saginaw-health-care/.