WASHINGTON – The Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, has named a 10-member Commission to screen candidates and recommend finalists for the post of Under Secretary for Health within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The Commission, chaired by VA Deputy Secretary Gordon H. Mansfield, will recommend a replacement for Dr. Jonathan B. Perlin, who resigned August 11 after seven years with VA.
“Deputy Secretary Mansfield’s chairmanship of the Commission is an indication of the importance of its work,” Nicholson said. “With new combat veterans and aging warriors from earlier conflicts relying on VA’s world-class health care system, this Commission will ensure we retain the leadership needed to maintain the high standards of care veterans deserve.”
Under federal law, the appointment of a VA Under Secretary is made without regard to political affiliation. Candidates must demonstrate their ability in both fiscal management and in the administration of organizations similar in size and content to the Veterans Health Administration.
VA operates the country’s largest integrated health care system, with 156 hospitals and more than 850 outpatient clinics among the 1,400 sites where care is provided. About 5.3 million veterans will come to VA for health care this year, resulting in more than 600,000 hospitalizations and 57 million outpatient visits.
In additional to Mansfield, members of the Commission include Dr. Jordan J. Cohen, president emeritus for the Association of American Medical Colleges; Dr. Carolyn M. Clancy, director for the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality; Jeffrey Oak, vice president for Bon Secours Health System, Inc.; John F. Sommer, Jr., executive director of The American Legion; and James B. King, national executive director of AMVETS.
Other Commission members include Dr. William Winkenwerder, Jr., assistant secretary of defense for health affairs; Cynthia P. Heckscher, managing director of Diversified Search; Dr. George E. Thibault, chairman of VA’s Special Medical Advisory Group; and Dr. Jonathan B. Perlin, former VA under secretary for health.
Willie L. Hensley, VA’s deputy assistant secretary for human resources management and labor relations, will serve as the commission’s executive secretary.
The committee is expected to complete its deliberations in time for Nicholson to make his recommendation regarding a new under secretary for health in January 2007.
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