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Department of Veterans Affairs
Under Secretary for Health (USH)
Agency Seal
Personal flag of the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Incumbent
Shereef Elnahal, MD
since July 21, 2022
Veterans Health Administration
Reports to Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Seat Washington, D.C.
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Constituting instrument 38 U.S.C.  § 305
PrecursorChief Medical Director of the Veterans’ Administration (1991)
DeputyPrincipal Deputy Undersecretary of Veterans Affairs for Health
Websitewww.va.gov/health

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.

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

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

M.D, FACHE, FACP, MSA

July 2021

as Acting Under Secretary

July 21, 2022
Shereef Elnahal July 21, 2022 incumbent
  1. ^ Dr. Petzel was confirmed by the Senate on February 11, 2010.

References

  1. ^ "38 U.S. Code § 305 - Under Secretary for Health". LII / Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  2. ^ Affairs, Office of Public and Intergovernmental. "Richard A. Stone, MD - Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs". www.va.gov. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "President Biden Announces Key Nominees". The White House. 2022-03-09. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "PN1617 - Nomination of Kenneth W. Kizer for Department of Veterans Affairs, 103rd Congress (1993-1994)". 28 September 1994.
  7. ^ "PN1045 - Nomination of Thomas L. Garthwaite for Department of Veterans Affairs, 106th Congress (1999-2000)". 8 September 2000.
  8. ^ "PN225 - Nomination of Jonathan Brian Perlin for Department of Veterans Affairs, 109th Congress (2005-2006)". 28 April 2005.
  9. ^ "VA's top doctor to step down". GCN. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  10. ^ Affairs, Office of Public and Intergovernmental. "News Releases - Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs". www.va.gov. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ Affairs, Office of Public and Intergovernmental. "News Releases - Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs". www.va.gov. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ Affairs, Office of Public and Intergovernmental. "News Releases - Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs". www.va.gov. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  15. ^ III, Leo Shane (2017-09-25). "Top VA health official steps down as major reforms loom". Military Times. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  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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