Thomas L. Garthwaite Confirmed as VA Under Secretary for Health

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Dr. Thomas L. Garthwaite today received Senate confirmation as Under Secretary for Health at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

In this capacity, Garthwaite will serve as the chief executive officer for VAs integrated health care system. With a medical care budget of more than $19 billion and health care staff of 180,000, VA operates the nations largest health care system, providing care to veterans through hundreds of medical centers, ambulatory care and community based clinics, nursing homes, domiciliaries and readjustment counseling centers.

Before his confirmation, Garthwaite served as Deputy Under Secretary for Health during the greatest period of transformation for VA health care in 50 years. During this period, VA increased access, treated more veterans, improved quality and patient satisfaction, and reduced the cost of care per veteran served by more than 20 percent. VA is now seen as a leader in many health care areas, including mental health care, geriatrics, care of homeless veterans, rehabilitation, surgical quality assessment, telehealth, patient safety, computerized patient records, and clinical and health services research.

In addition to its medical care mission, VA is the nations largest provider of graduate medical education and one of the nations largest medical research organizations. It also provides backup to the Department of Defense and the National Disaster Medical System.

Garthwaites VA career includes nearly 20 years of experience as a physician and clinical administrator at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center. He served as the medical centers chief of staff for eight years.

Garthwaite received his undergraduate degree at Cornell University and his medical degree from Temple University. He completed his internship and residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals before joining VA in 1976.