DURHAM — The Department of Veterans Affairs has appointed DeAnne Seekins as the new director of the Durham VA Medical Center.

Seekins will oversee delivery of health care to more than 56,000 veterans living in eastern North Carolina and an operating budget of approximately $400 million.

“We are thrilled to bring Ms. Seekins on board as the new medical center director in Durham,” said Daniel F. Hoffmann, Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network director. “Her strong leadership qualities, experience leading other facilities here and familiarity with our network will yield hefty returns for the employees, volunteers, and most importantly, the Veterans we are privileged to serve.”

Seekins has served veterans in numerous capacities since joining VA in 1984, most recently as director of the Hampton VA Medical Center. Prior to that appointment, she served as associate director of the Richmond VAMC from January 2007 to July 2009; including service as acting director from July 2008 to February 2009.

Seekins has a bachelor of business administration degree in healthcare administration and a master of business administration degree in Strategic Management. She is also a graduate of the VA Executive Career Field (ECF) program, the Health Care Leader Institute (HCLI) and the Senior Executive Strategic Leadership program at UNC-Chapel Hill.

With a staff of about 2,200, the Durham VA Medical Center is a tertiary care referral, teaching and research facility across from Duke University Medical Center. The campus consists of a 151-bed acute care hospital and a 120-bed Community Living Center facility, and houses the VISN 6 Mental Illness Research and Clinical Center, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, and Southeast Epilepsy Center of Excellence.