The director of the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital is headed to the southwest.

Kathleen Fogarty will serve as Acting Director for the Veteran Administration’s Southwest Healthcare System for at least a few weeks.

The region stretches from Texas out to Arizona and the troubled VA hospital in Phoenix where several veterans died while waiting for care. Officials say this is just a temporary assignment but Fogarty is being given the task because of her exemplary job in the Bay area.

Congressman David Jolly, a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, released the following statement on Dir. Kathleen Fogarty’s temporary assignment.

“I want to congratulate Kathleen Fogarty for accepting this challenge and for helping to be a part of the solution to the VA crisis.   New VA Secretary Robert McDonald has clearly identified Mrs. Fogarty as a leader and I have confidence in her ability to be a positive agent of change in the Southwest region.  When her assignment is over, I look forward to having her back in the Tampa Bay area.”