Valerie Rodriguez-Yu , DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CENP

She is responsible for guiding all aspects of nursing practice for one of the largest and most complex health care systems within the Veterans Health Administration enterprise. Dr. Rodriguez-Yu works consistently to build services to meet the needs of our nation’s heroes. In 2010, she developed the nursing foundation for the Veterans Affairs Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center; one of only five in the country designed to provide intensive rehabilitative care to Veterans and Servicemembers who experienced severe injuries.

In 2015, Dr. Rodriguez-Yu was appointed to the executive management team as the Deputy Nurse Executive. During her tenure, she led the cultural transformation of the organization to support a positive practice environment. Dr. Rodriguez-Yu consistently works to build and retain exceptional teams through the optimization of recruitment and retention programs.

As Nurse Executive, Dr. Rodriguez-Yu led efforts that resulted in the facility designation as a Pathway to Excellence® organization by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital (ALMMVH) is the first VA medical center in Texas to be designated as a Pathway to Excellence® organization and the fifth VA in the nation.

Dr. Rodriguez-Yu earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Phoenix. As part of her professional progression, Dr. Rodriguez-Yu is board certified as Nurse Executive-Advanced (NEA-BC) and achieved certification in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership. Dr. Rodriguez-Yu received a degree in Doctor of Nursing Practice – Executive Nurse Leadership from Baylor University. She is also a 2016 graduate of VHAs Health Care Leadership Development Program. Dr. Rodriguez-Yu is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Leaders, American Nurses Association, and Texas Nurses Association.