{"id":117195,"date":"2026-03-01T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-01T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/?p=117195"},"modified":"2026-09-09T12:33:44","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T16:33:44","slug":"valerija-raulinaitis-the-first-female-director-and-chief-of-staff-of-a-va-hospital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/valerija-raulinaitis-the-first-female-director-and-chief-of-staff-of-a-va-hospital\/","title":{"rendered":"Valerija Raulinaitis: The First Female Director and Chief of Staff of a VA Hospital"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Valerija Raulinaitis was a trailblazing figure at VA. In October 1962, she made history by becoming the first female Chief of Staff at a VA hospital. Just nine years later, she again broke barriers by becoming the first woman to be named Director of a VA hospital. These appointments were representative of a career in medicine that spanned over three decades and exemplified perseverance, patience, and a complete commitment to her profession.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image117195_c24b96-1d.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image117195_c24b96-1d .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:230px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image117195_c24b96-1d.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image117195_c24b96-1d .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image117195_c24b96-1d figure{max-width:230px;}.kb-image117195_c24b96-1d .image-is-svg, .kb-image117195_c24b96-1d .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image117195_c24b96-1d .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image117195_c24b96-1d\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1368\" height=\"1563\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Raulinaitis-Portrait.webp?w=263\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Raulinaitis-Portrait.webp?w=263\" alt=\"Raulinaitis Portrait \" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-117196\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271368%27%20height%3D%271563%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201368%201563%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271368%27%20height%3D%271563%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Raulinaitis-Portrait.webp?resize=263,300 263w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Raulinaitis-Portrait.webp?resize=525,600 525w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Raulinaitis-Portrait.webp?resize=768,877 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Raulinaitis-Portrait.webp?resize=1225,1400 1225w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Raulinaitis-Portrait.webp?resize=1344,1536 1344w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Raulinaitis-Portrait.webp 1368w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1368px) 100vw, 1368px\" \/><figcaption>Valerija Raulinaitis, circa 1970.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Raulinaitis was raised in Lithuania and knew from a young age that she wanted to become a doctor. She attended medical school in Kaunas and completed a residency in pediatric care. In 1938, she began practicing general medicine. However, Raulinaitis and her family were forced to flee Kaunas in 1944 due to the risk of Soviet occupation. Her medical degree was among the few possessions she took with her.<a href=\"#_ftn1\" id=\"_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a> The family traveled to Austria and then to Germany, where they found housing in a displaced persons camp. For four years after the war, Raulinaitis practiced medicine in several of these camps, providing care for the sick and wounded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1949, Raulinaitis emigrated to the United States and learned English while studying for her medical certification exams. She took a laboratory technician job at Harper Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, followed by a year-long internship at Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines. During this internship, one of the doctors suggested that she consider psychiatry, emphasizing that \u201ca patient must be seen as a total personality\u201d and that they \u201cmay have emotional illnesses as well as physical illnesses.\u201d This sparked an interest in Raulinaitis, and, in her words, she \u201cbecame progressively more interested in the psychiatric approach.\u201d<a id=\"_ftnref1\" href=\"#_ftn1\">[2]<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Raulinaitis joined Woodward State Hospital in 1951 as a staff physician and was promoted to clinical director within three years. In 1954, she transferred to the VA hospital in Downey, Illinois, as a resident in psychiatry. She went on to lead the hospital\u2019s Women\u2019s Neuropsychiatric Service and served as unit chief for a new treatment program in which patients were placed in fixed patient groups for the duration of their stay. This program was so successful that it was expanded to other VA hospitals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Raulinaitis\u2019s reputation as a respected medical professional no doubt influenced her nomination as Chief of Staff at Downey in 1962. When asked whether she anticipated any resentment over her new position, specifically due to her gender, she laughingly replied that she did not.<a id=\"_ftnref1\" href=\"#_ftn1\">[3]<\/a> Rather, she looked forward to the new responsibilities and noted that she appreciated how \u201csupervising the treatment of all patients presents a persistent challenge.\u201d<a id=\"_ftnref2\" href=\"#_ftn2\">[4]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"970\" height=\"759\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Raulinaitis-with-Gleason.webp\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Raulinaitis-with-Gleason.webp\" alt=\"Raulinaitis with Gleason\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-117198\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.2780400663519205;width:472px;height:auto\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27970%27%20height%3D%27759%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20970%20759%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27970%27%20height%3D%27759%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Raulinaitis-with-Gleason.webp?resize=300,235 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Raulinaitis-with-Gleason.webp?resize=600,469 600w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Raulinaitis-with-Gleason.webp?resize=768,601 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Raulinaitis-with-Gleason.webp 970w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 970px) 100vw, 970px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Raulinaitis, center, with VA Administrator John Gleason, Jr. in 1963. (<em>Chicago Tribune<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Raulinaitis\u2019s career continued to gain renown. In 1963, just a year after becoming Chief of Staff, she was one of ten female VA employees honored at a luncheon in Chicago, where VA Administrator John Gleason, Jr. paid tribute to her accomplishments.<a id=\"_ftnref1\" href=\"#_ftn1\">[5]<\/a> In 1970, she was made a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and was also one of that year\u2019s recipients of the Federal Woman\u2019s Award. She and the other recipients were invited to the White House to meet President Richard Nixon, who, just over a year later, would appoint Raulinaitis as the first female Director of a VA hospital. She officially took office as the Director of the Leech Farm Road VA Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1971.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"560\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Federal-Womans-Award.webp\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Federal-Womans-Award.webp\" alt=\"Federal Woman's Award \" class=\"lazyload wp-image-117197\" style=\"width:313px;height:auto\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27560%27%20height%3D%27800%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20560%20800%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27560%27%20height%3D%27800%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Federal-Womans-Award.webp?resize=210,300 210w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Federal-Womans-Award.webp?resize=420,600 420w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Federal-Womans-Award.webp 560w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Nixon with the recipients of the 1970 Federal Woman\u2019s Award. Raulinaitis stands third from right. (Richard Nixon Presidential Library)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, that position would not be her last. She served as Director at Leech Farm Road for two years before transferring to Tacoma, Washington, to serve as Director of the American Lake VA Hospital.<a id=\"_ftnref1\" href=\"#_ftn1\">[6]<\/a> Then, in 1975, she was named Director of the Fresno VA Hospital in California, where she supported a partnership between VA, Valley Medical Center, and the University of California, San Francisco, to set up a new medical school in Fresno. Raulinaitis herself served as the assistant dean of the school.<a id=\"_ftnref2\" href=\"#_ftn2\">[7]<\/a> Citing a desire to return to patient care, she stepped down as Director of the Fresno VA Hospital in 1976 and was reassigned as Chief of the Medical Staff.<a id=\"_ftnref3\" href=\"#_ftn3\">[8]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"795\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Raulinaitis-Appointed-Director.webp\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Raulinaitis-Appointed-Director.webp\" alt=\"Raulinaitis Appointed Director\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-117199\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.509496057593418;width:421px;height:auto\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27795%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%20795%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%27795%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Raulinaitis-Appointed-Director.webp?resize=300,199 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Raulinaitis-Appointed-Director.webp?resize=600,398 600w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Raulinaitis-Appointed-Director.webp?resize=768,509 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/02\/Raulinaitis-Appointed-Director.webp 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Raulinaitis, fifth from right, in the oval office following her nomination as Director of the Leech Farm Road VA Hospital. (Richard Nixon Presidential Library)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Raulinaitis later retired and moved to California, where she passed away on February 26, 2004. Her life and career continue to serve as an inspiration for all women in the medical field, but especially at VA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a id=\"_ftn1\" href=\"#_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a> \u201c1st Wom[a]n VA Director in U.S.: \u2018Knew Struggles of War Years,\u2019\u201d <em>Republican and Herald<\/em> (Pottsville, PA), November 6, 1971.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a id=\"_ftn1\" href=\"#_ftnref1\">[2]<\/a> Henry Bushnell, \u201cPsychiatrist is Guided by Common Sense,\u201d <em>Chicago Tribune<\/em>, December 5, 1963.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a id=\"_ftn1\" href=\"#_ftnref1\">[3]<\/a> \u201cLithuanian Doctor Becomes Chief of Staff at Downey and Boys! Doctor is a Lady,\u201d <em>Bridgeport News<\/em> (Chicago, IL), October 17, 1962.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a id=\"_ftn2\" href=\"#_ftnref2\">[4]<\/a> Bushnell, \u201cPsychiatrist is Guided by Common Sense.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a id=\"_ftn1\" href=\"#_ftnref1\">[5]<\/a> \u201cHonor Women in VA Work,\u201d <em>Chicago Tribune<\/em>, November 16, 1963.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a id=\"_ftn1\" href=\"#_ftnref1\">[6]<\/a> \u201cWoman Heads VA Hospital Here,\u201d <em>News Tribune<\/em> (Tacoma, WA), September 18, 1973.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a id=\"_ftn2\" href=\"#_ftnref2\">[7]<\/a> \u201cMed School: In Sight,\u201d <em>Fresno Bee<\/em>, July 13, 1975.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a id=\"_ftn3\" href=\"#_ftnref3\">[8]<\/a> \u201cMoore Will Succeed Dr. Raulinaitis as Head of Fresno VA Hospital,\u201d <em>Fresno Bee<\/em>, March 18, 1976.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dr. Valerija Raulinaitis was a trailblazing figure at VA. In October 1962, she made history by becoming the first female Chief of Staff at a VA hospital. Just nine years later, she again broke barriers by becoming the first woman to be named Director of a VA hospital. These appointments were representative of a career in medicine that spanned over three decades and exemplified perseverance, patience, and a complete commitment to her profession.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":258,"featured_media":117196,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[17,28,94,33],"class_list":["post-117195","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured-stories","tag-national-va-history-center","tag-veterans-administration","tag-veterans-health-administration","tag-womens-history-month"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/valerija-raulinaitis-the-first-female-director-and-chief-of-staff-of-a-va-hospital\/","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Valerija Raulinaitis: The First Female Director and Chief of Staff of a VA 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