The Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health is a sub-cabinet position in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Formerly known as the Chief Medical Director of Veterans Health, the Undersecretary is the highest official directly responsible to the Secretary for the Veterans Health Administration, which is the largest agency within the department. Although the position is no longer required to be held by a licensed physician (as of 2004),[1] senior medical professionals such as hospital administrators are typically the preferred selectee for nomination, based on both demonstrated ability in the medical profession or health care administration, and with substantial experience in Veterans healthcare or similar programs.
| Department of Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health (USH) | |
|---|---|
 Agency Seal | |
 Personal flag of the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs | |
 | |
| Veterans Health Administration | |
| Reports to | Secretary of Veterans Affairs |
| Seat | Washington, D.C. |
| Appointer | The President with Senate advice and consent |
| Constituting instrument | 38 U.S.C. § 305 |
| Precursor | Chief Medical Director of the Veterans’ Administration (1991) |
| Deputy | Principal Deputy Undersecretary of Veterans Affairs for Health |
| Website | www.va.gov/health |
From 2017 through July 2022, the position was vacant, with the last Senate-confirmed holder being Dr. David Shulkin, who was elevated to become the Secretary on February 14, 2017. As was the norm during much of the Trump administration, the position was filled by a myriad persons designated as acting undersecretary. Between 2018 and 2021, the position was held by Dr. Richard Stone, MD.[2] Following his resignation in July 2021, Deputy Under Secretary Dr. Steven. L. Lieberman assumed his duties.[3] On March 19, 2022, President Biden announced his intention to nominate Dr. Shereef Elnahal to serve as undersecretary. [4] Dr. Elnahal was confirmed by the Senate on July 21, 2022 and assumed his office the same day.[5]
List of Undersecretaries for Health
edit| Undersecretary | Term of Office | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Assumed office | Left Office |
|
James W. Holsinger, Jr., MD | March 15, 1990 | September 27, 1994 |
|
Kenneth W. Kizer, M.D., MPH | September 28, 1994[6] | September 7, 2000 |
|
Thomas L. Garthwaite, MD | September 8, 2000[7] | March 21, 2002 |
|
|
Robert H. Roswell, MD | March 22, 2002 | April 6, 2004 |
|
|
Jonathan Perlin
M.D, PhD, MSHA, FACP |
April 6, 2004
as Acting Undersecretary |
April 28, 2005 |
| April 28, 2005[8] | August 11, 2006[9][10] | ||
|
|
Matthew J. Kussman MD, MS, MACP | August 12, 2006
as Acting Undersecretary |
March 25, 2007 |
| March 25, 2007[11] | May 9, 2009[12] | ||
|
|
Gerald Cross, MD | May 10, 2009
as Acting Undersecretary |
February 17, 2010 |
|
|
Robert Petzel, MD | February 18, 2010[13][table 1] | May 16, 2014[14] |
|
|
Robert L. Jesse,
M.D., Ph.D |
May 16, 2014
as Principal Deputy Undersecretary |
July 2, 2014 |
|
Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D. | July 2, 2014
as Interim Undersecretary |
June 23, 2015 |
|
David Shulkin, MD | June 23, 2015 | February 14, 2017 |
|
|
Poonam Alaigh, M.D. | February 14, 2017
as Acting Undersecretary |
October 7, 2017[15] |
|
|
Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D. | October 7, 2017[16]
as Acting Undersecretary |
July 16, 2018 |
|
Richard A. Stone, M.D. | July 16, 2018
as VHA Executive in Charge |
July 2021 |
|
Steven L. Lieberman | July 2021
as Acting Under Secretary |
July 21, 2022 |
|
|
Shereef Elnahal | July 21, 2022 | incumbent |
- ^ Dr. Petzel was confirmed by the Senate on February 11, 2010.
References
edit- ^ "38 U.S. Code § 305 - Under Secretary for Health". LII / Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
- ^ Affairs, Office of Public and Intergovernmental. "Richard A. Stone, MD - Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs". www.va.gov. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
- ^ Affairs, Office of Public and Intergovernmental. "Steven L. Lieberman, MD, MBA, FACHE, FACP - Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs". www.va.gov. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
- ^ "President Biden Announces Key Nominees". The White House. 2022-03-09. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
- ^ "PN1843 - Nomination of Shereef M. Elnahal for Department of Veterans Affairs, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. 2022-07-21. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
- ^ "PN1617 - Nomination of Kenneth W. Kizer for Department of Veterans Affairs, 103rd Congress (1993-1994)". 28 September 1994.
- ^ "PN1045 - Nomination of Thomas L. Garthwaite for Department of Veterans Affairs, 106th Congress (1999-2000)". 8 September 2000.
- ^ "PN225 - Nomination of Jonathan Brian Perlin for Department of Veterans Affairs, 109th Congress (2005-2006)". 28 April 2005.
- ^ "VA's top doctor to step down". GCN. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
- ^ Affairs, Office of Public and Intergovernmental. "News Releases - Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs". www.va.gov. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
- ^ "PN420 - Nomination of Michael J. Kussman for Department of Veterans Affairs, 110th Congress (2007-2008)". www.congress.gov. 2007-05-25. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
- ^ Affairs, Office of Public and Intergovernmental. "News Releases - Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs". www.va.gov. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
- ^ "PN1199 - Nomination of Robert A. Petzel for Department of Veterans Affairs, 111th Congress (2009-2010)". www.congress.gov. 2010-02-11. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
- ^ Affairs, Office of Public and Intergovernmental. "News Releases - Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs". www.va.gov. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
- ^ III, Leo Shane (2017-09-25). "Top VA health official steps down as major reforms loom". Military Times. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
- ^ III, Leo Shane (2017-09-25). "Top VA health official steps down as major reforms loom". Military Times. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
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