News briefs: New director named for Chillicothe VA Medical Center

CHILLICOTHE - The Department of Veterans Affairs announced the appointment of Kenneth J. Mortimer as the new Medical Center Director the Chillicothe VA Medical Center (VAMC). Mortimer is currently the Associate Medical Center Director at the Herschel “Woody” Williams VAMC in Huntington, WV, where he has served since 2018. Mortimer’s official appointment as Chillicothe’s Director will be effective March 26.

Mortimer first joined the VA family as an Administrative Fellow/Health Systems Specialist at the St. Louis VA Health Care System in 2007. He then served as a Health Systems Specialist and Executive Assistant to the Chief Medical Officer for VISN 15 beginning in 2009. In 2013, Mortimer was appointed as Program Analyst for the Office of the Assistant Deputy Undersecretary for Health for Policy and Planning in Washington, DC. He then served as Charlotte VA’s Health Care Center Administrator beginning in 2015 until he earned the Huntington Associate Medical Center Director position.

Mortimer holds three Masters’ degrees: a Master of Social Work and Master of Health Administration from Washington University in 2007 and a Master of Military Art and Science from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth in 2013. He also holds a Bachelor’s in Philosophy from Ohio Northern University in 2003.

Jane Johnson, who is currently serving a temporary assignment as Chillicothe’s interim Medical Center Director, will return to her position as Cincinnati VAMC’s Director. Huntington’s interim Associate Medical Center Director will be named in the near future.

Meetings

The Ross County Emergency Management Executive Committee Meeting, which is scheduled at 4 p.m. March 20, at the Ross County Service Center, 475 Western Avenue, Conference Room A.

The Ross County LEPC Meeting, that is scheduled for 1 p.m. March 20, at the Ross County Service Center, 475 Western Avenue, Conference Room A

Focus Group for Local Transportation Needs

CHILLICOTHE – If you are an individual with a disability living in Ross County, plan to attend a one-hour transportation needs focus group at 2 p.m. March 22, at the Ross County Health District on E. 2nd Street.

Help us identify and prioritize transportation challenges in the community and develop transportation planning goals. The focus group will be hosted by our mobility manager and all participants will receive a Mobility Management “swag bag”.

If you need help finding transportation to the meeting, please call 740-779-9652, ext. 2250 by noonon March 20.

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: News briefs: New director named for Chillicothe VA Medical Center