Fayetteville VA names new director

May 18-- May 18--The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Friday the appointment of a new director to the Fayetteville Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

By late June, Daniel Dücker is expected to oversee delivery of health care to the Fayetteville NC VA Coastal Healthcare System that serves 19 counties in southeastern North Carolina to provide services to nearly 75,000 veterans with an operating budget of $332.8 million.

Dücker is a 33-year Army veteran whose recent appointments include acting deputy network director, VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network 6 from January to May 2019 and interim director for the Maine VA Health Care System in Togus, Maine from September 2018 to January 2019.

"We are thrilled to bring Mr. Dücker on board as the new medical center director," said DeAnne Seekins, director of the VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network 6 that the Fayetteville VA falls under. "Dan has incredible experience handling critical jobs in a variety of service lines and programs for some of VA's greatest facilities. We look forward to his steady leadership."

Prior to his time in Maine, Dücker served in 2009 as the clinical operations and business analyst/group practice manager the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital in Tampa, Florida.

He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Reserve Officers Association, the American Legion and the Military Officers Association of America.

Dr. W. Carl Bazemore has served as interim director for the Fayetteville Veterans Affairs Medical Center since Nov. 13, after previous director James Laterza announced he would resign.

Laterza, who was director for about eight months, replaced Elizabeth Goolsby, who was in charge for seven years.

In October, Laterza did not give a specific reason for his decision to leave, but stressed it was not predicated on controversy.

Bazemore, who served as chief of staff of the Asheville VA from 2014 to 2018, was the Asheville VA's acting director from July 2017 to February of this year.

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.

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