Joseph M. Scotchlas, FACHE, was appointed deputy network director of the VA Capitol Healthcare Network (VISN 5) on June 21, 2022. As deputy network director, he oversees operations at eight medical centers and 28 community clinics throughout Maryland, Northern Virginia, the District of Columbia, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky staffed by over 12,000 employees with an annual budget exceeding two billion dollars, providing care to over 235,000 Veterans. Mr. Scotchlas leads the auditing, biomedical engineering, business development, compliance, capital asset, emergency management, finance, logistics, police, prosthetics, and safety & occupational health functions across the network.Â
Prior to coming to VISN 5, Mr. Scotchlas served as the assistant healthcare system director of the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System and as the acting associate healthcare system director of the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System. He started with VA in 2012 as an administrative fellow in the Graduate Health Administration Training Program (GHATP) at the VA Sunshine Healthcare Network.
Mr. Scotchlas began his health care career in 2006, working as both a paramedic and an emergency medical technician for several 911-based services in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Mr. Scotchlas’ first VA experience was as an administrative intern at the Washington, DC, VA Medical Center.
Mr. Scotchlas holds a Master of Healthcare Administration degree and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science degree from The University of Scranton, Pennsylvania. He is an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), a 2019 graduate of the Health Care Leadership Development Program, and is board certified in health care management. He received the Regent’s Award from ACHE in 2015 and a Distinguished Service Award from the NEPA Healthcare Management Forum in 2012.