Miller Appointed to VA Health Post

WASHINGTON, DC — Laura J. Miller, director of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regional health network headquartered in Cincinnati, has been appointed chief operating officer for the VA’s 22 health-care networks, a post that carries the title of Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health.

“Throughout her career, Ms. Miller has been an effective administrator and a forceful advocate for America’s veterans. VA health care will continue to benefit greatly from her talents,” said Dr. Thomas L. Garthwaite, VA’s Under Secretary for Health.

With a budget of more than $20 billion, VA provides health care to veterans through approximately 180,000 staff members, 173 medical centers, more than 800 ambulatory care and community based clinics, 134 nursing homes and 206 readjustment counseling centers.

“It gives me great satisfaction to work with VA health care professionals to serve our country’s heroes,” Miller said. “VA’s health care system is growing and changing at a very rapid pace to provide the best possible care to our nation’s veterans.”

Miller has been a VA employee since 1978. Most recently, she was the director of VA’s Veterans Integrated Service Network 10 based in Cincinnati. In that capacity, she was responsible for providing services to a population of over one million veterans with an operating budget of approximately $700 million. Prior to serving as director of the Cincinnati-based network, Miller served as director of the VA Medical Center in Pittsburgh and as an associate director at the VA Medical Center in Salem, Va. She also served as assistant director at the Dallas VA Medical Center.

Miller received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. She is a member of the American College of Health Care Executives and a graduate of the Leadership VA Program. Miller is a native of Louisville, Kentucky.