The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announces the appointment of Brent A. Thelen. the new director of the St. Cloud VA Health Care System.

“Dr. Thelen possesses sound leadership qualities and proven experience,” said Mr. Robert McDivitt, VA Midwest Health Care Network Director.  “I am certain he will be an asset to our VISN, our employees and volunteers, our health care partners, the community, and importantly, for the Veterans we are honored to serve.”

Dr. Thelen has been with the Department of Veterans Affairs for over 16 years. He currently serves as the Director, Quality Management Systems/ISO Consultant Division (QCD-ICD) in Washington D.C.

Dr. Thelen holds a PhD in Engineering/Industrial Management from Columbia University, Master of Science in Business Administration from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering Technology from Southern Illinois University.  

The St. Cloud VA Health Care System is headquartered at the St. Cloud VAMC in St. Cloud, MN. VA Clinics are located in Alexandria, Brainerd and Montevideo, Minnesota. Services are delivered through outpatient clinics. The HCS provides primary and subspecialty medical, urgent, specialty and mental health care; acute psychiatry services; and extended care and rehabilitation services. The HCS also provides a number of special emphasis services including residential and outpatient mental health and substance abuse programs, a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatment program, a Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program, outpatient programming for serious mental illness, homeless Veterans programs, a suicide prevention program, a Post 9/11 Transition and Care Management program, a Women Veterans program, an Incarcerated Veteran Program, and a Veterans Justice Outreach Program. Extended Care and Rehabilitation services include Home-Based Primary Care, Adult Day Health Care, Memory Care, Hospice Care, Short Stay and Nursing Home Care, including ventilator care.