faculty

Expertise

Trailblazer, leadership, organization transformation

Experience

Nadja has the distinct honor of being the 44th Surgeon General of the U.S. Army and the former commanding general of the US Army Medical Command (USAMEDCOM). In 2015 West became the first African American woman in the Army's history to achieve the rank of Lieutenant General and is currently the highest-ranking woman graduate of the United States Military Academy. A graduate of The George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Nadja completed residencies in Family Medicine and Dermatology and has held various clinical, operational and leadership positions throughout her more than 30-year career as a soldier.

In her culminating assignment in the Army as the Surgeon General (TSG) and Commanding General of USAMEDCOM, West managed a budget of $11 billion and led the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) consisting of more than 130,000 dedicated healthcare professionals comprised of Active, Guard and Reserve Soldiers, Department of the Army Civilians, contractors and volunteers serving around the globe. In her role as TSG, West was the senior medical advisor to the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army. During her tenure, she led the AMEDD through the most comprehensive transformation that the Joint Health Services Enterprise has seen in over three decades.

Scholarly Work/Publications

Nadja holds an honorary degree of Doctor of Public Service from the George Washington University (GWU), and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Methodist University. In 2016 West received the GWU Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award; and became one of the inaugural Monumental Alumni award recipients in 2021. She is the recipient of the 2019 Daughters of the American Revolution Margaret Cochran Corbin Award. In 2020, the CEO Forum Group selected West for the 2020 Transformative CEO Award in Leadership in the category of Military. West is a recipient of the 2022 West Point Association of Graduates Distinguished Graduate Award.

Education

MD, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington D.C.

BS, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY

Organizations

Board of Directors, Johnson & Johnson, Nucor, Tempus Labs and Tenet

Trustee, National recreation Foundation and Mount St. Mary's University

Board Member: Bob Woodruff Foundation, Americares, and Olmsted Foundation