Cord officially began his appointment yesterday (submitted photo)
by Jonathan Weaver
New VA Butler Medical Director, Dave Cord -who was hired in October but started his appointment Sunday – will spend his first office day in the community.
Cord will attend a town hall meeting from 5-6PM tonight at VA Butler Healthcare’s main campus in Butler.
“We’re going to talk about whatever the community, the veterans, the family members (have on their minds), and it’ll give me an opportunity to meet those we serve in the community,” Cord said.
Cord also plans to visit the Armstrong County outpatient clinic in Hilltop Plaza within the next month.
“I plan to visit all of our community outpatient clinics on a regular basis. My expectation is I will visit all of them within the first three or four weeks that I’m on the job,” Cord said.
The Pittsburgh (Crafton) native served as a Judge Advocate General for more than five years (1995-2000) in the U.S. Air Force, and will oversee delivery of health care to approximately 19,000 Veterans with an operating budget of nearly $101 million.
This is his second appointment within VA Butler – he formerly served as Human Resources Director.
“I know VA Butler already does an excellent job in the care they provide – the quality of care, the access – so I want to make sure that in my role, I continue that great work that they’re doing,” Cord said. “The healthcare project is something that’s front-and-center for the organization and for the stakeholders in the community so I want to make sure that that stays on-track.”
Cord’s appointment fills the vacancy left by John Gennaro, who was recently appointed as the director of the Cincinnati VA Medical Center.