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ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) — The director of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Roseburg, who had come under criticism by a local veterans group unhappy with care at the facility, is leaving earlier than she had originally planned.
Carol Bogedain notified employees in an email that she is leaving at the end of this week, rather than at the end of the year, because her house had sold more quickly than she anticipated, The News-Review (http://bit.ly/1CGfj3k) reported Wednesday.
"I want to thank all of you who have assisted me in this role as director over the past three years," wrote Bogedain, 62, who came to Roseburg from Salem, Virginia, in 2011. "Although I will miss many of the staff and veterans I have come to know, I am looking forward to this new chapter in my life."
The Douglas County Veterans Forum has been critical of a decision to close the hospital's intensive care unit five years ago, before Bogedain took over. She had defended the decision, saying the unit saw too few patients for staff to keep their skills sharp. Relations soured even more after she walked out of a meeting with the group.
Forum spokesman Jim Little said Bogedain had a distinguished 39-year career with the VA, but did not do much to help the Roseburg VA during her three years at the facility.
In contrast, the regional director of the VA network issued a statement praising Bogedain's performance during a challenging time. Veterans Integrated Service Network-20 Director Larry Carroll cited strategic planning, the expansion of the VA clinic in Eugene clinic and the development of $52 million in capital investment projects.
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Information from: The News-Review, http://www.nrtoday.com
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