Southern Arizona VA Health Care System

04/10/2026

Veterans have reached out to the Veterans Crisis Line millions of times for support. You can too.

Dial 988 then Press 1, chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255.

04/09/2026

04/07/2026

100K new Veterans sign up for health care following VA improvements

04/06/2026

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Leslie T. Lockridge, DNP, RN, as the new Executive Director of the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, effective April 5, 2026.

Dr. Lockridge brings a wealth of experience and proven leadership to this role. Most recently, she served as the Acting Deputy Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Patient Care Services within the Veterans Health Administration, where she provided oversight for 16 National Program Offices delivering operational, policy, and compliance support across VHA.

Since joining VA in 2009, Dr. Lockridge has held numerous key leadership positions, including Senior Advisor to the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer, Associate Director for Patient Care Services at the Phoenix VA Health Care System, and acting executive leadership roles at Phoenix, New Mexico, and Southeast Louisiana VA Health Care Systems. Her extensive experience spans strategic planning, facility operations, nursing leadership, and patient-centered care initiatives.

Dr. Lockridge earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Chamberlain University, a Master of Science in Nursing Administration from Middle Tennessee State University, and dual Bachelor’s degrees from Tennessee State University and Lipscomb University. She also serves as a Professor of Practice at Arizona State University’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, reflecting her commitment to advancing healthcare education and practice.

With Dr. Lockridge’s extensive experience and leadership, we are confident that she will effectively lead the Southern Arizona Health Care System in continuing to provide excellent care and services to our Veterans.

04/06/2026

Military sexual trauma (MST) can affect anyone. VA is here to meet MST survivors where they are in their healing.

During Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month and beyond, find free resources and support, visit MentalHealth.va.gov/MST

04/05/2026

Jump Start Your Engineering Career with the VA’s TCF Program

The Veterans Health Administration’s Technical Career Field (TCF) Program offers early career engineers an excellent opportunity to grow professionally while supporting America’s Veterans. This full time program provides structured training, hands on experience, and mentorship in areas such as construction management, facility upgrades, maintenance, and healthcare engineering operations.

TCF positions are available at VA medical centers nationwide, and U.S. citizens from all engineering disciplines are encouraged to apply. Veterans are especially encouraged to participate.

Interested? Search “TCF, GS 801” on USAJOBS or visit:
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/862295400

Take the first step toward a career that makes a meaningful impact. The closing date is April 13, 2026. For questions, email Matthew.McKinley@va.gov.

04/03/2026

Congratulations to Camille Morgan, RN in our Emergency Department, our April DAISY Award Honoree.

From the write up, it is clear just how exceptional Camille truly is. Her compassion, attentiveness, responsiveness, intelligence, and kindness shine through in every moment of her work.

The Emergency Department often holds inpatient admissions in the Fast Track area, and on a particularly busy day, Camille’s calm and empathetic presence stood out. She navigated a high pressure environment with ease, always noticing what was needed before anyone said a word. She stepped in quickly when supplies or medications were missing and supported two Float Pool nurses who were new to Fast Track. When several colleagues, including a physician, lined up waiting for assistance, Camille stepped forward, redirected requests, and helped distribute the workload so that everyone received timely support.

Her responsiveness was just as remarkable. Camille recognized when her colleague was being approached by multiple people who needed immediate attention. She took initiative, guided several colleagues to herself to ease the load, and made multiple calls to pharmacy to resolve an ongoing issue. Because of her quick thinking, operations continued smoothly even during peak demands.

Her intelligence and clinical skill were also evident throughout the shift. While juggling multiple responsibilities, Camille still found time to teach a nurse how to mix contrast for a CT scan. She explained the steps clearly and ensured the nurse felt confident, all while maintaining her own demanding workflow. Her teaching strengthened her team and directly supported patient care.

What truly ties it all together is Camille’s kindness. She is consistently supportive, approachable, and patient. She helps with tasks big and small, always with a genuine willingness to serve her team. Her positivity builds trust, strengthens camaraderie, and creates a more collaborative work environment.

Camille goes above and beyond every day. She balances her responsibilities while mentoring others, taking on additional challenges, and helping maintain high standards of care even during the most demanding shifts. Her dedication and leadership transformed what could have been an overwhelming day into a successful and efficient one.

Thank you, Camille, for being an exceptional nurse and an invaluable part of our ED team. We are proud to celebrate you as our April DAISY Award Honoree. 🌼💛

04/03/2026

Yesterday, the Casas Adobes American Legion Auxiliary (ALA), unit 73, provided lunch to our Fisher House guests and staff, including a special visit from the Easter Bunny!

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to ALA for the delightful lunch and for bringing joy to the SAVAHCS Fisher House.

04/02/2026

Yesterday, we celebrated Doctor's Day by providing our amazing Southern Arizona VA Health Care physicians with lunch in the Rose Garden Courtyard at the Tucson VA Medical Center.

Our SAVAHCS physicians lead with compassion and innovation, heling our Veterans lead healthier lives.