VA Caribbean Healthcare System

05/06/2026

I am pleased to announce that Jackeline Maldonado Vélez has been named the new Assistant Chief Nurse for Surgery & Rehabilitation, effective June 2026. Ms. Maldonado Vélez holds a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Nursing Administration and a specialty in the Care of the Elderly from the University of Puerto Rico. She began her nursing career at Hospital Centro Médico de Puerto Rico, where she cared for trauma and critically ill patients, establishing a strong clinical foundation early in her professional journey.

She later joined the VA Caribbean Healthcare System, where she has proudly served for the past 18 years. Her VA service began in the Emergency Department of a military facility, followed by a transition to the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU), where she served as an intensivist nurse for seven years. Ms. Maldonado Vélez has advanced through several leadership roles, including Permanent Charge Nurse, Assistant Nurse Manager, and Nurse Manager supporting Acute Medicine. She has contributed significantly to performance improvement initiatives, emergency management efforts, and enhancements in clinical practice.

Under the Chief of Staff Office, she has participated in system wide improvement initiatives related to maintaining the indwelling Foley catheter closed system and supported the development and opening of the Wellness Center, contributing meaningfully to patient safety and staff well-being. She has also actively supported the Readmission and Mortality Workgroup, helping advance key quality of care initiatives. Additional accomplishments include serving as a PMDB trainer, completing the CDL leadership program, becoming an active member of ACHE, and receiving the Daisy Award for Excellence in Nursing.

Ms. Maldonado Vélez is known for her strong commitment to servant leadership, her dedication to clinical excellence, and her passion for providing exceptional care to the Veterans we are honored to serve.

Sincerely,

Antonio Sánchez, MD, MHSA, FAPA, FACHE
Executive Director (Medical Center Director)

02/06/2026

Have you downloaded our Couples Coach App? Couples can improve communication and build trust in their relationship. Try exercises to practice active listening so you can navigate conflict better with your partner. https://mobile.va.gov/app/couples-coach

01/06/2026

For 80 years, VA health care has been shaped by research and informed by Veterans’ experience, setting the foundation for a future of exceptional health care.
Every study and every advancement builds on the one before it—pushing Veteran care forward.

28/05/2026

Even if to***co use is part of your daily routine, or you’ve tried quitting before, or you’re worried about withdrawal symptoms, you have the power to reclaim your life.

Need guidance on how to stay away from to***co? Talk to trained quit coaches who will help you during any phase of quitting.

Call the VA to***co quitline at 1-855-QUIT-VET or visit Mentalhealth.va.gov/MENTALHEALTH/quit-to***co/quit-vet.asp

27/05/2026

Join us as we honor the strength, resilience, and courage of our Veteran cancer survivors during the VACHS National Cancer Survivors Day celebration. Veterans, caregivers, and families are invited to connect, learn about available resources, and celebrate survivorship together.

📅 Monday, June 1, 2026
🕙 10:00 a.m.
📍 OPA First Floor Hallway – Near Monumental Stairs

Together, we continue our commitment to supporting Veterans and their families through compassionate care and hope.

27/05/2026

27/05/2026

Honoring Our Heroes: Memorial Day Tributes Across Puerto Rico and USVI

VA Caribbean Healthcare System leaders proudly honored our nation’s heroes by participating in Memorial Day events at the National Cemeteries in Bayamón, Aguadilla, Morovis, and St. Thomas, USVI.

At each ceremony, our leaders presented a wreath to pay tribute to the sacrifices of Veterans and their families throughout Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

We are grateful for everyone who joined us in honoring those who served and gave everything for our country.

27/05/2026

26/05/2026

VACHS Welcomes Dr. Magda Liz Reyes Oliver as the New Medical Director for the Community Living Center.

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Magda Liz Reyes Oliver has been named the new Medical Director of our Community Living Center (CLC), effective February 2026. Dr. Reyes Oliver has been serving as Acting Medical Director since July 21, 2025, and has already demonstrated excellence in leadership and patient-centered care.

Dr. Reyes Oliver received her Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, where she studied from 2007 to 2015. She earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, Jalisco, México, Class of 2015.

Following medical school, Dr. Reyes Oliver completed her pre-internship at Community Health Hospital Associates in Las Vegas, Nevada (2015–2016), and an internship at Hospital de La Concepción, San Germán, Puerto Rico (2016–2017).

She continued her professional training with a Family Medicine Residency at the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus (2017–2020), where she was selected as Chief Resident for the 2019–2020 academic year.

Demonstrating a strong commitment to serving older adults, Dr. Reyes Oliver completed a Geriatric Medicine Fellowship at the University of Puerto Rico, VA Caribbean Health Care System 2020–2021. She has served as a Geriatric Medicine Physician at the Community Living Center from 2021 to 2026, contributing greatly to the compassionate delivery of care to our Veterans.

Dr. Reyes Oliver is board certified in both Family Medicine and Geriatric Medicine. Her extensive training, dedication, and leadership make her exceptionally qualified to lead the CLC into a new era of excellence.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Magda Liz Reyes Oliver to her new role as Medical Director of the Community Living Center.
Sincerely,

Antonio Sánchez, MD, MHSA, FAPA, FACHE
Executive Director (Medical Center Director)