Ms. Stephanie Young was appointed as VISN 22 Interim Network Director effective December 15, 2024. Ms. Young has served as the Director of the Western North Carolina VA Health Care System (WNCVAHCS) since her appointment on February 18, 2018. In this role, she oversees a comprehensive level 1B healthcare system serving over 49,000 Veterans across 23 counties in Western North Carolina. Under her oversite the WNCVAHCS employs approximately 2,500 staff, operates on an annual budget exceeding $750 million, and provides a wide range of complex services, including inpatient and outpatient care, surgery, psychiatry, and long-term care. The WNCVAHCS network includes the main facility in Asheville, NC, named after Eastern Band of Cherokee Medal of Honor recipient Charles George, and three community-based outpatient clinics in Franklin, NC, Rutherford County, NC, and Hickory, NC. The 23-county catchment area offers unique opportunities to serve highly rural Veterans, using an innovative approach.
With over 30 years of dedicated service to Veterans, Ms. Young’s career began as a GS-4 medical clerk and progressed through various leadership roles, including Chief Information Officer and Associate Director. Prior to her current position, she served as the Medical Center Director at the VA Illiana Health Care System in Illinois and as the Interim Director of the VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), overseeing 7 medical centers providing care to 390,000 Veterans with a $3.3 billion budget.
Ms. Young holds an Associate Degree in Applied Science, a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, and a Master of Healthcare Administration. She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a Certified Lean Black Belt, and a seasoned Health Care Leadership Development Program Coach.
Under her leadership, the WNCVAHCS has achieved significant milestones, including the prestigious Pathway to Excellence® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and supported the PTE designation of several other VAMC’s. The system has also embraced innovation, particularly in the seminal work in Virtual Reality, and has produced numerous successful projects recognized through the Shark Tank program.
The WNCVAHCS is highly rated, achieving a dual 5-Star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and maintaining a 5-Star rating for its Community Living Center for five consecutive years. The system has consistently ranked among the top 3 Best Places to Work for the past seven years and was recently honored with the 2024 VHA Best Overall Veteran Experience Award.
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