The Department of Veterans Affairs has appointed a new network director to oversee health care services to more than 1.2 million veterans living in most of Georgia and Alabama and all of South Carolina.
The government agency announced over the July 4th weekend that Dr. David Walker will head the VA Southeast Network, called VISN 7.
The region has had more than its share of problems in recent years, with investigations of Alabama VA facilities and numerous problems in the metro Atlanta area VA hospital and its complex of clinics. They range from veteran suicides to long shutdowns of surgical suites.
The regional director’s position has been a revolving seat in the past decade, with numerous interim directors and directors. The last full-time director retired in 2019 after a veteran staying in a long-term care facility was found covered in ant bites.
Walker replaces interim director Joe Battle.
Walker was the acting network director for the VA MidSouth Healthcare Network, which stretches from southern West Virginia to northern Mississippi, since January 2021. Earlier, he was the director for the hospital and clinics in Jackson, Mississippi. He is board certified in psychiatry.
In a statement, Renee Oshinski, Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Operations, said Walker’s “sound leadership qualities and proven experience will be valuable assets for the health care network, the employees, volunteers and most importantly, for the veterans we are honored to serve.”
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