Dr. Balavankatesh Kanna has been appointed as the new executive director of the James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center located in Fordham Manor.

 

The news was confirmed on Monday, June 13, by Patrick H. Cordova, Major USAF (Ret.), supervisory public affairs specialist at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. According to Cordova, Dr. Kanna received his medical degree from Coimbatore Medical College in India and has served the Bronx community since then, completing his residency in internal medicine 25 years ago in 1997.

 

He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and earned the certified professional in-patient safety credential from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the New York Academy of Medicine.

 

“Dr. Kanna’s proven leadership and considerable experience make him well-equipped to oversee the delivery of high-quality care to our nation’s Veterans at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center,” Cordova said. “He has held several clinical and executive leadership positions, including chief patient safety officer, associate chief medical officer, and associate graduate medical education director & facility research review chair.”

 

He added, “Most recently, he oversaw multiple clinical and non-clinical departments as the chief operating officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, which has an operating budget of over $600M, an inpatient capacity of 362 beds, and is the busiest Level 1 trauma center in the northeast region.”

 

Cordova continued, “As an affiliate assistant dean for the Weill Cornell Medical College, Dr. Kanna serves on the dean’s council of affiliated dean’s committee, as a lead liaison. Weill Cornell Medicine is committed to excellence in patient care, scientific discovery, and the education of future physicians in New York City and around the world.”

 

According to the U.S. VA department, Kanna received a master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2005. “His strong background in community-based clinical research will be a significant asset to James J. Peters VAMC’s world-renowned research program,” Cordova added.

 

He concluded, “Dr. Kanna has sound leadership qualities and proven experience.  I am certain he will be a valuable asset to our VISN, our employees and volunteers, our health care partners, the community, and importantly, for the Veterans we are honored to serve.”

 

Norwood News recently reported on the possible future closures of the Manhattan and Brooklyn Veterans Affairs hospitals, announced by the U.S. VA department in April. The news follows an Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Report by the department, which included recommendations by the U.S. VA secretary.

 

It has raised ongoing concerns among Bronx veterans about the future of services at the Bronx VA facility, both in terms of its future status and also in terms of a possible overloading of the Bronx center with veterans from other boroughs.

 

As reported, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) deputy secretary, Donald Remy held a brief press conference during a visit to the Bronx VA medical center on Friday, April 8, 2022. The matter continues to be discussed at Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7)’s Veterans committee meetings.