VA names medical center director of health care system based in Fayetteville
by February 23, 2026 5:20 pm 834 views
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced Monday (Feb. 23) the appointment of Martha Smith as medical center director of the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks in Fayetteville, which manages services for a 22-county region.
She has served as interim executive director of the health care system since June 2025. Dr. George Velez retired from the role of medical center director and CEO in May 2025.
Smith will oversee health care for more than 60,000 veterans and manage an $840 million operating budget to serve veterans living in 22 counties in Northwest Arkansas, southwest Missouri and eastern Oklahoma.
“We are excited to bring Dr. Smith on board,” said Fernando Rivera, interim director for Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 16. “Her sound leadership and proven experience will be valuable assets for our staff, volunteers, and, most importantly, for the veterans we are honored to serve. We expect her to begin her new appointment within the next 45 to 60 days.”
Smith has more than a decade of leadership experience within the VA. Her career includes positions at multiple VA medical centers. She previously served as the deputy director of the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System in New Orleans, which includes nine locations in Louisiana.
She earned a doctorate in educational leadership and a master’s degree in hotel and restaurant management from Eastern Michigan University. She received a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Michigan State University.
Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks provides health care services at eight locations in Northwest Arkansas, southwest Missouri and eastern Oklahoma, including the Fayetteville VA Medical Center and seven community-based outpatient clinics in Fort Smith, Harrison, Ozark, Branson, Mo., Springfield, Mo., and Joplin, Mo., and Jay, Okla.
The health system has provided services to veterans since 1934. Services include primary care, mental health care, specialty care, women’s clinic, pharmacy, social work, surgery and nutrition services.