VA Announces New Medical Center Director at VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System

Pleasant Hill, Cal.– The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Thomas Talamante as Medical Center Director for VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System (VASNHCS) in Reno, NV.  In his new role, Mr. Talamante will oversee an operating budget of $553M and lead over 1,800 staff.  

VASNHCS operates 69 acute inpatient beds offering comprehensive medical, surgical, and behavioral health care, along with skilled nursing and rehabilitation services in a 60-bed Community Living Center.  Six community-based outpatient clinics located in Gardnerville, NV; Fallon, NV; Winnemucca, NV; Susanville, CA; and east and north Reno, support the wide catchment area for VASNHCS which encompasses 20 counties in northern Nevada and northeastern California and approximately 100,000 Veterans.  In FY23, the health care system completed over 423,500 outpatient encounters.  VASNHCS has an academic partnership with the University of Nevada-Reno School of Medicine

“We are excited to welcome Mr. Talamante to VISN 21 as the new Medical Center Director of VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System. Given his 11 years of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) experience, I anticipate excellent leadership and continued commitment to America’s heroes,” said Ada Clark, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 21 Director. 

Mr. Talamante has served as the Interim Director at VASNHCS since December 2023. He previously served as Deputy Director of the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System in Aurora, CO.  Mr. Talamante began his VHA career in 2009 at the VA San Diego Healthcare System and served in a broad range of leadership positions at multiple VA medical centers. 

Mr. Talamante graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and from National University in San Diego, California with a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership. Additionally, he holds a Master of Business Administration from University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado. Mr. Talamante is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and is an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).  He is a graduate of the VHA Executive Management Fellowship Program and the Excellence in Government Fellows Program. 

Mr. Talamante is a United States Marine Corps combat Veteran who served in various leadership roles in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Mr. Talamante will begin his appointment July 28, 2024.