Photo: Witthaya Prasongsin / Moment / Getty Images
The Syracuse VA Medical Center has appointed Michael DelDuca as its new executive director. DelDuca, originally from Canandaigua, New York, takes over from former director Mark Murdock, who resigned last February after accepting a buyout offer from the Trump administration. DelDuca, aged 36, previously served as the interim director of the medical center.
DelDuca's appointment comes during a challenging period for the Syracuse VA, which has faced staff reductions and service cutbacks. According to a recent federal inspection report, these cutbacks have put patient care at risk, leading to the resignation of eight specialty doctors. The report also highlighted the lapse of contracts for specialists in infectious disease and endocrinology, which affected patient care.
DelDuca, a graduate of SUNY Geneseo with an MBA in health care management from Clarkson University, will oversee the Syracuse VA hospital and 11 outpatient clinics across a 13-county region in Upstate New York. His leadership is expected to address the challenges highlighted in the inspection report and improve healthcare services for veterans.
The Syracuse VA Medical Center serves over 50,000 veterans and operates with an annual budget exceeding $300 million. DelDuca's role will be pivotal in ensuring the center meets VA standards for patient care and addresses the issues raised in the inspection report.