Syndi day | va central california health care | veterans affairs

Syndi Day was appointed Associate Director of VA Central California Health Care System (VACCHCS) in September 2024. In this capacity, Ms. Day oversees Engineering Service (including

Planning), Environmental Management Service, Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE), Nutrition and Food Service, Privacy, and Fiscal Service. She is also the liaison for the

facility with Human Resources, Office of Information and Technology (OI&T), and Information Security.  Before her appointment to Associate Director, Ms. Day held the position of

Assistant Medical Center Director since March 2020. In this capacity, she was responsible for overseeing multiple critical departments, including Business, Police, Safety, Prosthetics,

Supply, Veterans Transportation, and Emergency Management. She played a key role in ensuring that VACCHCS adhered to VHA policy and accreditation standards while maintaining budgetary

compliance. Her role required her to prioritize staffing, contracts, and construction, particularly when managing the Community Care, Transportation, and Prosthetics budgets. She is also the

facility liaison for the Veterans Canteen Service.  Throughout her tenure, Ms. Day has taken on several leadership roles. Ms. Day demonstrated her leadership during emergencies, including

wildfires and systems failures, by instituting incident command, reallocating funds, and managing staffing shortages. One of her most significant contributions came during the COVID-19

pandemic, where she served as Incident Commander from December 2020 to May 2022. Her responsibilities included overseeing surge planning, vaccination efforts, and the creation of alternate

inpatient care sites, as well as establishing COVID response systems such as drive-through testing and mobile morgues.   Ms. Day’s experience extends beyond operations. She has frequently

represented VACCHCS at various events, including the Veteran’s Day Parade, Women’s Stand Down, and CBOC groundbreaking ceremonies, where she has spoken on behalf of the institution. Her

commitment to Veterans is demonstrated in her work at Veteran and Employee Town Halls and meetings with Veterans Service Organizations.  Before serving as Assistant Director, Ms. Day was the

Chief of Business Administration Service (BAS, now HAS) from November 2014 to February 2020. In this role, she oversaw a $50 million Community Care budget. She worked closely with section

managers to ensure that the service's operations aligned with the VHA’s mission and goals, while also addressing changes at the facility or national level.   Earlier in her career, Ms.

Day served as the Compliance and Business Integrity Officer from 2011 to 2014 and as Chief of the Patient Accounts Section from 2001 to 2011.  Ms. Day holds a Bachelor of Science degree in

Accounting from the University of Phoenix and has completed leadership development programs with VISN 21/22 and the Partnership for Public Service. She is a member of the American College of

Healthcare Executives and continues to serve Veterans with dedication and expertise.