VISN 06

• Charles George VA Health Care SystemAsheville, North Carolina
• Durham VA Health Care SystemDurham, North Carolina
• Fayetteville (NC) VA Coastal Health Care SystemFayetteville, North Carolina
• Hampton VA Health Care SystemHampton, Virginia
• Central Virginia VA Health Care SystemRichmond, Virginia
• Salem VA Health Care SystemSalem, Virginia
• W.G. "Bill" Hefner VA Health Care SystemSalisbury, North Carolina

Our Leadership

• Jonathan Benoit

  Interim Network Director, VISN 6

  Jonathan Benoit

  Interim Network Director, VISN 6

  

  Mr. Jonathan S. Benoit assumed the role of Interim Network Director for the VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6) on February 28, 2025, overseeing 61 care sites across North Carolina and Virginia. The expansive healthcare network houses seven VA medical centers, 54 outpatient clinics, four healthcare centers providing same-day surgery, and seven Veteran Community Living Centers. VISN 6 currently has an annual operating budget of $7.8 billion, which enables its 22,000 staff to dutifully serve the region’s 480,000 unique Veteran patients.

   

  With over 24 years’ experience in healthcare and business operations, Mr. Benoit has been the VISN 6 Deputy Network Director since May 23, 2022. In that role, he managed operations across the VISN’s seven VA healthcare systems, enhancing efficiency across areas including Finance, Human Resources, Capital Asset Management, Prosthetics, Logistics, Police Services, Emergency Management, and Healthcare Business Operations. During FY24, he led a groundbreaking collaboration between the VA and the Department of Defense to improve access to care for Veterans and service members across the two states. Before joining VISN 6, Mr. Benoit held leadership positions during his tenure at the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System in Central Florida, including Associate Director, Acting Assistant Director, and Chief of Health Administration Service.

   

  Mr. Benoit earned a Master of Science in Health Services Administration from the University of Central Florida and a Bachelor of Science in Community Health from the University of North Florida. He is a proud U.S. Navy Veteran with vast experience and unwavering dedication to improving healthcare for fellow Veterans.

   

  

• Mary Parker, PharmD, FASHP, FCCP, FNCAP

  Interim Chief Medical Officer

  Mary Parker, PharmD, FASHP, FCCP, FNCAP

  Interim Chief Medical Officer

  

  Dr. Parker was appointed Interim Chief Medical Officer effective May 1, 2025. Previously Dr. Parker served as Deputy Chief Medical Officer for VISN 6 since October 24, 2022. Prior to her appointment, she was the Acting Deputy Chief Medical Officer since June 2021; before that position, Dr. Parker was the Acting Chief Medical Officer for VISN 6 from November 2020 to June 2021. Since coming to VA from the private sector in April 2011, Dr. Parker has held several clinical leadership positions throughout her nine years at the Durham VA Health Care System: Acting Associate Chief of Staff for Ambulatory Care, Acting Chief of Ambulatory Care Clinics at Durham VAHCS, Clinic Coordinator, and Clinical Pharmacy Specialist of Ambulatory Care Clinics. Before joining VA, Dr. Parker worked as the Director of Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Clinics and Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner for Moses Cone Health System in Greensboro, NC. There she built pharmacist-run clinical services for anticoagulation, dyslipidemia, heart failure, arrhythmias, and cardiovascular risk reduction at a multispecialty physician practice. She has also served as a Clinical Pharmacist Specialist supporting a 110-bed regional hospital with ER, ICU, Nursery, Surgical, and Radiologic services. Dr. Parker holds a Doctor of Pharmacy from Campbell University and completed general and specialty residency training at Moses Cone. She graduated with a Masters of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration degree from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke in December 2022. She is recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, Fellow of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and Fellow and Past-President of the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists. She maintains double-board certification in Pharmacotherapy and Cardiology Pharmacotherapy.

  

• Brenda Richardson, DBA

  Deputy Network Director (Acting)

  Brenda Richardson, DBA

  Deputy Network Director (Acting)

  

  Brenda Richardson, DBA, became Acting Deputy Network Director, VISN 6 as of March 1, 2025. She was appointed Chief Logistics Officer for VISN 6 on October 9, 2022, bringing over 25 years of experience in healthcare and supply chain management across the Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Army. 

  As VISN 6 Chief of Logistics, Dr. Richardson oversees supply chain operations for seven VA healthcare systems across Virginia and North Carolina, supporting the fastest-growing population of Veteran enrollees in the nation. Her leadership spans expendable and non-expendable medical supply processes, procurement, point-of-use initiatives, facility contracting, warehouse management, mailroom operations, and expired medical supply reduction. She also serves on multiple local and national supply chain committees, ensuring efficiency and operational effectiveness. With a deep understanding of VISN and VAMC logistics, she is committed to enhancing efficiency and expanding healthcare access for Veterans. 

  Before her appointment as Chief Logistics Officer, Dr. Richardson held several leadership roles within VISN 6. She began her VA career at the Richmond VA Health Care System, serving as Supervisory Inventory Management Specialist, Deputy Chief of Logistics, and Chief of Environmental Management Service (2009–2018). She later transitioned to VISN 6 Headquarters, where she served as Supervisory Inventory Management Specialist (2018–2021) and Deputy Chief Logistics Officer (2021–2022) before assuming her current role. 

  Dr. Richardson holds a Doctorate in Business Administration (Health Care Management) from North Central University, a Master of Business Administration from Wayland Baptist University, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. She is also a proud retired U.S. Army Veteran.

  

• Michael Rumensky

  Chief Nursing Officer (Interim)

  Michael Rumensky

  Chief Nursing Officer (Interim)

  

  Michael Rumensky, MSN, RN, was appointed Chief Sterile Processing Officer for VISN 6 on September 25, 2022, bringing over 23 years of experience in nursing service and sterile processing across the Department of Veterans Affairs and the private sector.

  As VISN 6 Chief Sterile Processing Office, Mr. Rumensky oversees sterile processing operations for seven VA healthcare systems across Virginia and North Carolina including twelve reprocessing facilities and two DoD partnerships, supporting the fastest-growing population of Veteran enrollees in the nation. His leadership spans critical and semi-critical reusable medical devices, critical water systems for reprocessing, specific purpose funding, standard operating procedures related to reprocessing. He also serves on multiple local and national sterile processing committees, ensuring safe sterile processing operations. With a deep understanding of VISN and VAMC sterile processing, he is committed to providing timely and safe reusable medical devices to end users.

  Before his appointment as Chief Sterile Processing Officer, Mr. Rumensky held several leadership roles within VISN 6. He began his VA career at the Salem VA Health Care System, serving as Interventional Radiology Nurse, Assistant Nurse Manager of Day Hospital, and Chief of Sterile Processing Service (2018–2022). He has also served in several detail capacities including the Acting Chief Nurse of Primary Care and the Acting Nurse Manager of 4H inpatient unit. Mr. Rumensky’s leadership roles in the private sector include Unit Director of the resource pool at a Level 1 Trauma Center and Nurse Manager of Ambulatory Surgery and Pre-Admissions Testing, as well as a wide range of staff positions across both inpatient and outpatient services.

  Mr. Rumensky holds a Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Administration from Western Governors University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Virginia, and an Associate in Applied Science in Nursing from Virginia Western Community College.

  

• Dana Ballard

  Quality Management Officer, VISN 6

  Dana Ballard

  Quality Management Officer, VISN 6

  

  In November 2019, Ms. Dana Ballard joined the VISN 6 Senior Leadership Team as the Network Quality Management Officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network. With more than 30 years of healthcare experience as a Registered Nurse, Ms. Ballard has built a distinguished career spanning both the private sector and VA roles. She began her career in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) before transitioning to the VA in 2004 as a Surgical ICU nurse at the Durham VA Health Care System. In 2014, she advanced into leadership roles in Quality and Patient Safety.

  An expert in Quality Management, Patient Safety, and Process Improvement, Ms. Ballard excels at implementing High-Reliability Organization (HRO) principles and fostering a culture of safety within complex healthcare systems. She is recognized for her collaborative leadership, innovative problem-solving, and ability to drive evidence-based, patient-centered care. Her leadership has consistently resulted in sustainable improvements in care delivery and staff engagement.

  Ms. Ballard holds a Master of Science in Nursing Leadership from Western Governors University and is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ).