Modern Healthcare Magazine Recognizes VA’s Top Physician as one of 2018’s 50 Most Influential Physician Executives and Leaders

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) top physician, Dr. Carolyn Clancy, who leads VA’s Veterans Health Administration (VHA), was named by Modern Healthcare magazine as one of 2018’s 50 Most Influential Physician Executives and Leaders in an announcement June 18.

“This is yet another great testament to Dr. Clancy’s work ethic and devotion to our nation’s Veterans,” said Acting VA Secretary Peter O’Rourke. “Dr. Clancy is a noted physician, researcher and educator, and we are proud to have her on our VA team.”

According to Modern Healthcare, the 50 Most Influential Physician Executives and Leaders recognition program honors physicians working in all sectors of the health-care industry who are steering their organizations and the health-care delivery system through dynamic, challenging times. Further, the magazine said, the physicians stand out for the scope of their executive responsibilities, personal achievements, innovation and commitment to their communities.

“It is such an honor to be recognized for the work we’re doing at VA for our Veterans,” said Clancy, VA’s executive in charge of VHA. “Our Veterans have earned and deserve the best care we can provide them.”

In her role as executive in charge of VHA, Clancy directs VA’s health-care system with an annual budget of approximately $68 billion, overseeing the delivery of care to more than 9 million enrolled Veterans. VHA is the largest integrated health-care system in the U.S., providing care at 1,242 sites of care, including 171 VA Medical Centers and 1,062 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity. VHA is the nation’s largest provider of graduate medical education and a major contributor to medical and scientific research. More than 73,000 active volunteers, 127,000 health-profession trainees and over 306,000 full-time, health-care professionals and support staff are an integral part of the VHA community.

Under Clancy’s leadership, VA launched tools that enable Veterans to get information more readily about everything from quality care to patient wait times. She also led efforts across VA to tackle the opioid crisis, including adopting decision-support technology. This year, Clancy will lead efforts to boost performance at lower-performing health-care facilities.