Alumna answers the call for veterans’ mental health, named Chief of Staff for one of the nation’s largest mental health programs

By Margaret Schell

D r. Kara Vick Boyer ('04) was recently appointed Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health Care at the Orlando VA Healthcare System - one of the largest mental health programs in the country. She was chosen by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Boyer's eight years serving as deputy chief of staff prepared her for this new role. She was responsible for staff and veterans and collaborating with leadership.

"I'm so happy to continue serving veterans," she said. "I just serve them in a different way now."

Serving those who served

The VA Mental Health Center has over 20 separate mental health programs to support the entire continuum of care from primary, low-level care to outpatient care to residential or acute care. The center offers comprehensive behavioral health services for veterans, including psychiatric care, PTSD treatment and addiction therapy.

"We serve veterans from all walks of life," Boyer said. "When I came here, I broke down barriers to have a low-barrier program for veterans in Orlando."

"I'm very passionate about this," she said. "We can provide the highest level of care to these veterans."

Boyer supervises 400 employees who work in mental health including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, marriage family therapists, advanced practice registered nurses and peer-support specialists.

Now, her time is spent in strategic planning, collaborating with service chiefs on overlapping issues, budget development, ensuring proper spending of funds and compliance with directives, policies and procedures.

"I try to be transparent and approachable," Boyer said. "I don't want to lose these [traits] during this transition."

"We are a close mental health executive leadership team that works well together," she said. "We challenge each other and have difficult conversations, but we also laugh a lot."

Boyer's management style is rooted in servant leadership. She is excited to spearhead projects, support her leaders and move forward with a plan her team developed.

"Leadership supports our supervisors who support our frontline staff who ultimately serve our veterans," she said. "I'll break down barriers for veterans - ensuring resources are available by addressing their concerns and seeing how we can improve."

Boyer also reviews and ensures all staff are in the right place to support veterans getting the right care at the right time and in the right location. On Fridays, she has 30-minute slots available employees to drop in her office.

"As a leader, I also need to connect with my staff," Boyer said. "Some show me pictures of their children and pets," she said. "Then we share updates. This provides a safe space for them to address their concerns."

Building on a Bobcat Background

Boyer thanks Georgia College & State University for helping her get into grad school and beyond.

"Since GCSU provided me with many diverse experiences, other universities considered me for Ph.D. programs," Boyer said.

She received her doctoral degree at the University of South Dakota.

Psychology professor emeritus Dr. William McDaniel taught her how to conduct research with animals and humans.

"Not many undergraduates get that kind of experience," she said. "Those projects and writing papers prepared me for my master's thesis and doctoral dissertation."

Dr. Lee Gillis, professor of psychology, taught Boyer that it's okay to start with a small idea, let it grow and see where it goes.

"You can always adjust things when they don't go as planned," she said. "That's not much different than strategic planning or trying a new program."

Through the years, Gillis was her mentor.

"She was willing to go beyond Georgia borders to apply for a doctoral training program and not limit herself to stay close to home," Gillis said. "This adventurous spirit serves as a model for others who are willing to move out of their comfort zone to achieve their goals."

The department invited Boyer to return to Georgia College in 2014 to give the Alumni of Distinction talk with psychology students. She enjoyed seeing their research projects and presentations. Boyer enlightened them on the careers available in psychology.

"There are so many people with psychology degrees in mental health," Boyer said. "Our social workers, psychologists and other professionals bring so much to the table every day."

Header Images: Dr. Kara Boyer (center) and her staff members, prepare the Orlando VA Healthcare System's Mental Health Center for America's 250th birthday celebration; Dr. Kara Boyer engages with staff members regarding the VA Medical Health Center's FY 2027 Strategic Plan; Dr. Kara Boyer (second from left) checks in with her staff. (Photos: Dr. Kara Boyer)