Perlin Sworn in as VA’s Top Doctor

WASHINGTON – Dr. Jonathan B. Perlin was sworn in today as the Under Secretary for Health in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Perlin, who was sworn in by Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gordon H. Mansfield, will serve as the chief executive officer of the nation’s largest integrated health care system, which treats more than 5 million people annually with a budget of nearly $30 billion.

“Dr. Perlin is a man of great skill and boundless compassion,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson. “America‘s veterans are lucky to have him lead VA’s health care system.”

A native of Maryland, Perlin earned an M.D. and a Ph.D. in pharmacology from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Va.  He later served on the staff at the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals at VCU and continues to hold an adjunct faculty appointment there.

“I’m honored by the trust shown by Secretary Nicholson, President Bush and the Senate,” Perlin said. “And I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve our nation’s veterans.”

Perlin has held several appointments at Richmond VA Medical Center, and moved to the Department’s Washington headquarters in 1999, serving as chief quality and performance officer, deputy under secretary for health, acting chief of research and development, and acting under secretary for health before his confirmation by the Senate on April 28, 2005 for the top job.

He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.

VA’s health care system includes 196,500 health care professionals, 125,000 volunteers, 80,000 health profession trainees and 25,000 affiliated medical faculty.

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