Degrees: Master of Social Work, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Specialties: Medical Social Work, Spinal Cord Injury & Traumatic Brain Injury Coordination, Transplant Program Coordination, Program Development, Veteran Services

Janie Rusich-Saks is a highly accomplished social work professional with more than 30 years of experience serving veterans, individuals with complex medical needs, and their families. Her career has spanned direct clinical care, program development, and administrative leadership within the Veterans Health Administration, where she became known for her deep clinical knowledge, exceptional organizational skills, and compassionate approach to patient advocacy.

Before joining Beyond Expectation Psychological Services, Janie served as Transplant Coordinator for the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System, where she oversaw clinical and administrative aspects of the transplant program for all organ types. She acted as the liaison with VA transplant centers nationwide, coordinated pre‑ and post‑transplant care, provided psychosocial assessments, and guided patients and families through complex medical decisions.

Earlier, she served as Social Work Supervisor and Spinal Cord Injury Coordinator for the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System, where she led graduate‑level social work staff, developed new positions within the department, and worked closely with community hospitals to ensure smooth transfers for newly injured veterans. She also played a central role in re‑organizing the MSW student intern program, significantly increasing participation and training opportunities.

Janie’s prior leadership at the Northport VA Medical Center in New York included serving as Social Work Supervisor/Program Coordinator for community contract programs, managing multimillion‑dollar budgets, developing and negotiating program contracts, and ensuring quality of care for veterans in contracted nursing homes, adult day healthcare, and home health aide programs.

Her early work as a Medical Social Worker and Coordinator for spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury programs helped establish some of the VA’s earliest rehabilitation initiatives, contributing to national policy guidelines and training standards.

She holds a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from SUNY Stony Brook. Her decades of service to veterans and her expertise in complex medical case management, program coordination, and interdisciplinary teamwork make her a trusted and valued member of the Beyond Expectation Psychological Services team.