New director of Minneapolis VA Health Care System

The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced the appointment of Patrick Kelly as the new director of the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. He assumes the leadership of a massive institution, with an operating budget of $594 million and more than 100,000 veteran patients.

Here's more on Kelly from the VA press release:

"Mr. Kelly has served more than 31 years in health care leadership positions within the VA and Department of Defense (DoD).  He most recently served as Director of the VA Health Care System, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Mr. Kelly holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and an undergraduate degree in Sociology from Creighton University, Omaha, NE.  He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Patrick Kelly has an exceptional background and possesses the leadership, knowledge, and skills necessary to successfully lead the Minneapolis VA Health Care System into the future."

Kelly will replace acting director Judith Johnson-Mekota and is expected to begin in the next several months.