Peggy Kearns named new VA hospital director

Peggy Kearns, a seasoned health care professional and longtime VA employee, has been appointed the new director of the Veterans Affairs Southern Nevada Healthcare System, VA officials said Monday.

She replaces Isabel Duff, who retired May 1 after a 20-month stint in Southern Nevada that spanned a stormy period when veterans complained of long waits blamed on a doctor shortage, prolific patient loads and delays in reconstructing the hospital's emergency room.

Bill Caron has served as acting director while the Department of Veterans Affairs sought a replacement for Duff.

Kearns is currently director of the Lutz VA Medical Center in Saginaw, Mich.

When she takes over the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System sometime in December, she will lead a 2,200-person staff at the North Las Vegas VA Medical Center and its satellite clinics in Las Vegas, Henderson, Pahrump and Laughlin.

The VA Southern Nevada system provides health care to more than 54,000 veterans.

A 28-year VA employee, Kearns will oversee a $454 million budget for VA facilities in Southern Nevada. She is expected to begin her appointment "within the next four to six weeks," said VA Sierra Pacific Network Director Sheila Cullen.

"Her leadership and past experiences will be invaluable to the facility, the employees and volunteers, and most importantly, for the veterans we are honored to serve," Cullen said in a Monday news release.

Kearns received a master's degree in adult health education from Indiana University; a master's in organization and management from Capella University in Minneapolis; and a bachelor's degree in nutrition from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.

She is a fellow in the American College of Health Care Executives and a VA-certified mentor.

Contact Keith Rogers at krogers@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308. Find him on Twitter: @KeithRogers2