By Teresa Morris, NOVA Director, Advocacy & Government Relations

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that Dr. Beth Taylor will be retiring from her position as Assistant Undersecretary for Health for Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer on July 30, 2022.  Dr. Taylor has been integral in shaping policy and improving nursing within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and NOVA is honored to call her a friend and an ally.

Beth Taylor, DHA RN, NEA-BC

Dr. Taylor began her over 25-year career in 1996 serving as the Associate Director of Patient Care Services /Nurse Executive in Saginaw Michigan.  She continued in her role as an Executive at various VA facilities including Detroit, Milwaukee and Tucson, Arizona.  Her many accomplishments include serving as a Health Care Leadership Development Program (HCLDP) mentor and on various Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) and VHA committees as well as special projects and detail assignments. In 2014, she received the Paralyzed Veterans of America Advocacy-Clinical Excellence Award.  In 2021, she was inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nursing.

M. Christopher Saslo, DNS ARNP-BC, FAANP

With the departure of Dr. Taylor, effective July 31, Dr. M. Christopher Saslo will assume the role of Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Health for Patient Care Services. Dr. Saslo has been a nurse for more than 36 years and has worked for VHA for more than 26 years.  His areas of expertise include Ambulatory Care as both a Nurse Practitioner and Program Manager, Medicine Service in the HIV and Hepatology clinics and Associate Chief Nurse for Clinical Practice in Nursing.

NOVA thanks and congratulates Dr. Taylor and welcomes Dr. Saslo to the VA nursing community.