Leadership Team
James Doelling | 708-202-2153
Hospital Director
Mr. James Doelling was appointed as Hospital Director in March 2020 and oversees the delivery of healthcare to more than 46,000 Veterans living in the surrounding 10-county area of Illinois, and is responsible for an operating budget of $750 million and a workforce of approximately 3,700 employees. Hines includes a 273-bed hospital and a 210-bed Community Living Center as well as six outpatient clinics. He also served as the Medical Center Director at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center. He led, managed, and directed the planning and evaluation of healthcare services, as well as administrative and supporting operations for the medical center in the western part of Michigan, covering a 22-county geographic area with approximately 45,000 enrolled Veterans. He has more than 30 years of healthcare experience and nearly 20 years with VA. He has held a series of Nursing leadership roles at the VAMC in Providence, Rhode Island, Boston Health Care System and Hines VA Hospital before being named Associate Director, PCS/Nurse Executive in Los Angeles, where he served for three years. He has a Master of Science degree in Organizational Management from Springfield College in Boston, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. He serves as the Chairperson for the VHA Senior Executive Orientation Program, and champions and Co-Chairs the VHA RN SES Executive Steering Workgroup. He is the Chairperson for the VISN 12 Veteran Experience sub Committee.
Angela Morris, MPH LCSW
Associate Director- Resources
Ms. Morris was appointed as the Associate Director for Resources at Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital in June 2021. In this role, she oversees Patient Administrative Services, Nutrition and Food Services, Environmental Management Services, Privacy Office, Center for Development and Civic Engagement (formerly Voluntary Services), and Office of Information and Technology (OI&T). She started her VA career in 2008 as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the Women’s Health Clinic at the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital. Since then, she has served as the Telehealth and Rural Access Program Manager for the VA North Texas Healthcare System, Clinic Administrator for Southern Tier Community Based Outpatient Centers affiliated with the William S. Middleton VA Medical Center, Group Practice Manager at Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, Health System Specialist to the VISN 12 Chief Medical Officer, and Executive Assistant to the VISN 12 Network Director. She also served as Acting Associate Director at Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital from August until December 2020. Ms. Morris received a Bachelor of Science from Xavier University of Louisiana and a Master’s Degree in both Public Health and Social Work from the University of Illinois- Chicago. She is a VISN 12 Leadership Development Program (VLDP) graduate, certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and VHA Health Care Leadership Development Program (HCLDP) Class of 2020-2021 participant.
Jon Beidelschies, J.D. | 708-202-5635
Associate Director- Operations
Jon Beidelschies was appointed Associate Director in April 2021. He was appointed Assistant Director at Hines VAH on August 18, 2019. Previously, he served as national Program Manager for the Supply Chain Education and Talent Management branch of the Veterans Health Administration Procurement & Logistics Office, overseeing the national policy, training, and human capital development of the 6,500+ person VHA Logistics/Supply Chain workforce. In this role, he led the development and implementation of the largest workforce standardization in Veterans Health Administration history and served as proponent for the national supply chain management curriculum, based in the VA Acquisition Academy. Mr. Beidelschies served as acting Associate Director at the Washington, DC, VA Medical Center in 2018, overseeing the daily administrative operations of a Level 1A medical center including fiscal, logistics, human resources, facilities, safety, emergency management and business office. From 2010-2012, Mr. Beidelschies served as the Deputy Chief Operating Officer for the VHA Procurement & Logistics Office, overseeing operations including budgeting and human resources. Mr. Beidelschies joined federal service in 2008 as a Presidential Management Fellow, serving as a Special Assistant to the Network Director in Veterans Integrated Service Network 4. He is a graduate of Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin (Madison) Law School.
Jeffrey E. Oken, MD | 708-202-2535
Acting Chief Of Staff
Dr. Jeffrey Oken started his VA career in 2018 as a Physiatrist and Deputy Chief of Staff at the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital after working in the private sector for 27 years. He has overseen the Office of Community Care, including transitions and expansions after the Mission Act. He is the Mission Act Executive Sponsor, ensuring that all aspects of Mission Act and corresponding community partnerships are appropriately executed. Dr. Oken similarly holds the position of Executive Sponsor to the Referral Coordination Initiative, which oversees the consult process, ensuring that Veterans are offered all available choices when considering their care options, whether face-to-face, via VA Video Connect, over the telephone, or through a community partner. Through this initiative, Dr. Oken and partners strive to embody the VA Mission and provide the best care possible for our Nation’s Heroes. He is also Executive sponsor for the EHRM/Cerner initiative. He received his Doctor of Medicine through University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, and completed his internship in Internal medicine at Northwestern University and residency at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. He is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine with subspecialty certification in pain medicine as well as spinal cord medicine. He has held executive leadership positions at Northwestern Medicine/Marianjoy and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare.
Jose Alejandro, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, MBA, FACHE, FAAN | 708-202-5635
Associate Director- Patient Care Services
Dr. Jose Alejandro was appointed as Associate Director for Patient Care Services/Nurse Executive for the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Medical Center in June 2021. He brings over 26 years of nursing experience to this role. Dr. Alejandro continues to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve. His most current roles were the Director of Care Management at the University of California Irvine Health, a 411-bed academic medical center – Level 1 Trauma and Burn Center and Assistant Professor at Mount St. Mary’s University in Los Angeles. Dr. Alejandro is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, American Academy in Nursing and Sigma Theta Tau International. He is board certified as a Nurse Executive Advanced (NEA-BC) by the American Nurse Credentialing Center. Dr. Alejandro received his BS in Nursing from the University of Texas at Arlington; MS in Nursing from the University of Phoenix; MBA in Healthcare Management from the University of Dallas and PhD in Human Services from Capella University. Dr. Alejandro continues to serve on professional associations such as the Case Management Society of America (25th President), National Association of Hispanic Nurses (15th President), Sigma Theta Tau International (Treasurer 2019-2023), American Academy of Nursing (Board -2019-2021), American Association of Men in Nursing (Board - 2020-2022) and American Nurses Association – California (Treasurer - 2021-2023).
