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Dole VA welcomes new CEO and Medical Center Director

Michael Payne Intro

As of July 17, 2023, Michael D. Payne, Jr., is the CEO / Medical Center Director of Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas.

Dr. Patricia Hall, Network Director for Veterans Integrated Service Network 15 (VISN 15), which includes Dole VA, said she is excited for Mr. Payne’s contributions to come.

“His sound leadership qualities and proven experience will be valuable assets for the medical center, the employees and volunteers, and, most importantly, the Veterans we are honored to serve,” Dr. Hall said. 

Mr. Payne previously served as deputy executive director for the VA Boston Healthcare System in Boston, Massachusetts. He joined VA in 2016 as the associate director of human resources in VA’s Central Office of Community Care (Workforce Management). Shortly after, he was appointed the chief human resources officer at the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, where he often served as acting associate medical center director.

He was also the chief human resources officer at South Texas Veterans Healthcare System in San Antonio before being appointed as the interim associate medical center director at the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System in Nashville. Prior to his position with Boston VA, he was the associate medical center director at the Gulf Coast Veterans Healthcare System in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Mr. Payne is an Army Veteran and has served 23 years of federal service in a variety of executive-level appointments. His active duty and Army civilian service allowed him to serve at a wide range of locations around the world, including Germany, Iraq, Italy, Japan, and Kuwait.

Mr. Payne holds a Master of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Human Services Management. He is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt. Mr. Payne has successfully completed the Senior Executive Service (SES) Assessment Program and is a graduate of VHA’s Healthcare Leadership Development Program (HCLDP). He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a life member of both Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

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