NORTHAMPTON — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has named Navy veteran Duane B. Gill as the new director of the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System in Leeds.
Gill currently serves as the deputy director of the Eastern Colorado Healthcare System in Aurora, and had previously served for more than three years as an associate director at the medical center in Leeds.
Within the next 30 to 45 days, Gill replaces John P. Collins, who retired in October after five years in the position, as director. Andrew McMahon has been the acting director of the health care system and will return to his permanent position as associate director.
At the region’s VA, Gill will be responsible for the delivery of health care to about 90,000 veterans throughout Hampshire, Franklin, Hampden, Berkshire and Worcester counties. With an operating budget of nearly $250 million and just over 1,000 employees, the health system conducted nearly 400,000 outpatient visits in 2019 at eight sites of care, including the medical center in Leeds and outpatient clinics in Greenfield, Springfield, Worcester, Fitchburg and Pittsfield.
In a statement, Gill said he is humbled to again serve at the VA Central Western Massachusetts and to build on the advancements Collins made in improving health care access for veterans, enhancing the infrastructure at the physical sites and ensuring employees have the resources to do their jobs.
“With VA currently on the front line in our nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, I am coming on board at a most important time in our VA’s history and I am grateful for this opportunity to serve veterans in Central Western Mass,” Gill said.
Ryan Lilly, network director of the VA New England Healthcare System, said in a statement that Gill brings both past experience at the Leeds site and familiarity with patient care and operations.
“His versatile and proven leadership qualities and health care experience will be valuable assets for the network, the employees and volunteers, and most importantly, for the veterans we are honored to serve,” Lilly said.
In addition to his military service, Gill is a fellow at the American College of Healthcare Executives and earned a master’s degree in management from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond.
Gill joined the VA in 2007 as health system specialist to the associate director at Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia. He was at the Leeds location from July 2014 to August 2017, and also served as an acting medical center director at VA hospitals in both Aurora, Colorado, and Louisville, Kentucky.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
