The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has appointed Thandiwe Nelson-Brooks, MPH, FACHE as the new director of the Wilmington VA Medical Center, marking an important leadership moment for one of the region’s most critical health care institutions serving veterans across Delaware and southern New Jersey.
Nelson-Brooks officially stepped into the role on March 8, 2026, bringing more than two decades of clinical and administrative health care leadership experience to the position. The Wilmington VA Medical Center provides care to more than 47,000 veterans annually and employs more than 1,300 staff members, making it both a major health care provider and a key employer in the region.
A Career Built in Veterans’ Health Care
Nelson-Brooks has spent much of her career within the Veterans Affairs health system. She began her VA journey in 2010 as a Clinical Nurse Consultant and Health Promotion Disease Prevention Program Manager at the VA New Jersey Health Care System in East Orange.
Over the years, she has held a number of senior leadership roles, including serving as Associate Medical Center Director at the Roseburg VA Health Care System in Oregon. In that role, she oversaw multiple operational areas including administrative services, supply chain, environmental management, facilities, emergency management, safety, and voluntary services.
Most recently, Nelson-Brooks served as Deputy Medical Center Director for the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System in Honolulu, where she also stepped in as Interim Medical Center Director before returning to the mainland to lead the Wilmington facility.
Education and Leadership Credentials
Nelson-Brooks earned her Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University and a Master of Public Health from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. She is also a graduate of the VA’s Health Care Leadership Development Program and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), reflecting her national recognition in health care management.
Serving Veterans in the Delaware Region
The Wilmington VA Medical Center plays a vital role in caring for veterans throughout Delaware and parts of southern New Jersey. Services range from primary care and specialized medical treatment to mental health services, PTSD programs, substance-use treatment, and support for aging veterans and caregivers.
As Nelson-Brooks begins her tenure, she has emphasized that veterans remain at the heart of the mission.
“Our veterans are the ‘why’ behind everything we do,” she said, noting that connecting with veterans and their families will be a top priority as she leads the medical center into its next chapter.
Looking Ahead
With her extensive experience across multiple VA health systems and a career dedicated to improving veteran health services, Nelson-Brooks is expected to play a key role in strengthening care delivery and community partnerships throughout the Delaware region.
Her appointment represents both continuity and renewed leadership for an institution that serves tens of thousands of veterans each year and remains a cornerstone of the region’s health care system.
