Leadership Team
Rick A. Ament, FACHE | 316-685-2221 ext. 53601
Medical Center Director
Rick A. Ament, FACHE, was appointed as the Health System Administrator and Medical Center Director for the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center, Wichita, KS in December, 2016. In this capacity, Mr. Ament provides executive leadership to the Medical Center as well as all Veterans Health Administration services in South and Western KS. Mr. Ament is a seasoned healthcare executive with over 30 years of experience in both the private and public sectors.
Mr. Ament’s experiences include numerous CEO roles, organizational turnarounds, strategic consulting and multi-facility operations. From 2015-2016, he served as the CEO of Select Specialty Hospital. From 2004-2007 and again from 2012-2015 he was the CEO of Beacon Leadership Group, a boutique healthcare consultancy specializing in operations improvement. From 2003-2004 he was the COO of Covenant Healthcare System. From 1999-2003 he was a Regional Vice President and Market Manager for Quorum Health resources where he had operational responsibility for 11 rural hospitals. From 1994-1999, he was the CEO of Bay Area Medical Center where, in 1997, he and his team were recognized nationally as Hospital Magazine’s, Turnaround Hospital of the Year. In 1996, Mr. Ament received the Wisconsin Regent’s award as the ACHE Young Healthcare Executive of the Year.
A proud, second generation, Air Force Veteran, Mr. Ament served as a Medical Service Corps officer from 1986-1988 and as an OSI Special Agent from 1982-1986. A 1982 graduate of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, Mr. Ament was commissioned a second lieutenant and received his BA in Political Science. He later received his MS in Hospital Administration from Central Michigan University in 1987. In 2006, he became a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Dana Foley, Ph.D. | 316-685-2221 ext. 53100
Associate Director
Dr. Foley. was appointed as Associate Director for the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center (RJDVAMC) in 2018 after serving in the position on a temporary detail for 6 months. Prior to this detail, Dr. Foley was the Chief of Psychology Service at the Oklahoma City VAHCS. She also served as the Acting Assistant Director at Oklahoma City and the Acting VISN 19 Mental Health Lead in Denver. She has worked for VHA since 1989, including her internship at the Cincinnati VAMC. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Oklahoma State University and has been licensed as a psychologist in Oklahoma since 1992.|Dr. Foley completed the VA Health Care Leadership Development Program in 2015. She completed the VA Executive Career Development Program (ECDP) in 2018. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.
Sharon Lien | 316-685-2221 ext. 56702
Acting Assistant Director
Sharon Lien was appointed as the Acting Assistant Director in May 2018. Prior to this position she was the Executive Assistant to the Medical Center Director from March 2015 through May 2018. Ms. Lien is a full member of the Medical Center’s executive management team and shares in the responsibility for management actions. Before moving to Wichita, Kansas, Ms. Lien served as a Staff Assistant in the VHA Homeless Program at VA Central Office for two years. Prior to that appointment, she served as the Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Staff and Business Manager of the Facilities Management Service Line at the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System. Ms. Lien has completed the LEAD programs in both VISN 18 and VISN 15. She joined the VA in 2005 and has served the Department of Veterans Affairs for 13 years. Ms. Lien is an Air Force Veteran.
Robert V. Cummings, MD | 316-651-3731
Chief of Staff
Dr. Cummings has been Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and held various physician leadership positions in complex, integrated, academic medical centers before being appointed Chief of Staff for Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center. He served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Fayetteville North Carolina VA Medical Center for 5 years and as a Chief Medical Officer for the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health Care System for 3 years. Other leadership experiences included: OB/GYN Department Chair, Assistant Dean, Women’s Hospital Administrator, Medical Director for Operations of a large multidisciplinary physician group, and Senior Vice President for Medical and Academic Affairs. He is a graduate of the Hahnemann University Medical School in Philadelphia, PA, and trained in Obstetrics & Gynecology at Upstate Medical University, State University of New York and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. Dr. Cummings’ clinical specialty is Obstetrics and Gynecology specializing in Maternal-Fetal Medicine (High-Risk Obstetrics). Dr. Cummings is a U.S. Air Force Veteran having served in the Medical Corps at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida.
Julianna Cotton, MSN, RN | 316-685-2221 ext. 53728
Interim Associate Director of Patient Care Services/Nurse Executive
Julie Cotton has served as the Interim Director of Patient Care Services/Nurse Executive at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center since May 2018. Ms. Cotton served in the role of Deputy Nurse Executive for 15 months prior to this. She has worked for VHA since 2014. She has been a Registered Nurse for 21 years with a wealth of clinical experience in ICU and ED nursing. She has a Master’s of Science in Nursing from Walden University and is currently completing her Doctorate of Nursing Practice. Ms. Cotton completed the VISN 15 LEAD program in 2017. She contributes to the nursing profession as member of the Kansas State Nurses Association and serves as adjunct faculty in the school of nursing for Wichita State.
