Ms. Penny Nechanicky joins Grace and Associates with almost 40 years of federal government experience in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Prior to joining Grace and Associates, she served as the Executive Director for Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) within the Veterans Health Administration. As an integrated homecare delivery system under her leadership, PSAS provided over 23 million medically prescribed prosthetic, sensory aids (eyeglasses and hearing aids), home medical devices and assistive aids to more than half (3.5 million) eligible Veterans with the goal to support personal achievement and the highest level of independent function and personal safety.
As Executive Director, Ms. Nechanicky was responsible for the management of an appropriated budget over $5 billion to procure home devices and services. In addition to procurement and provision of medical items, her responsibilities include oversight and direction of benefit programs such as: Automobile Adaptive Equipment, Home Improvement and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grant, Clothing Allowance, Service Dog/Guide Dog Veterinary Health Care, and close collaboration with Orthotic and Prosthetic Services.
As a clinician, she has extensive experience in the field of Blind Rehabilitation with medical/rehabilitation social work emphasis. She served as Chief, Blind Rehabilitation Center in VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA and VA Medical Center, Connecticut. She also served in leadership roles focused on operations at both the medical center and VA New England Healthcare System (VISN) level as the Network Service Line Director for Sensory and Physical Rehabilitation which included Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Kinesiotherapy, Recreation Therapy, Blind Rehabilitation, Audiology, Speech Pathology and Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service.
Ms. Nechanicky received her Bachelor of Social Work from Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA and her Master of Social Work from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. She is also a graduate of Leadership VA and VHA’s Executive Career Field programs.