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), 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. Following his resignation in July 2021, Deputy Under Secretary Dr. Steven. L. Lieberman assumed his duties. On March 19, 2022, President Biden announced his intention to nominate Dr. Shereef Elnahal to serve as undersecretary. Dr. Elnahal was confirmed by the Senate on July 21, 2022 and assumed his office the same day.
List of undersecretaries for health +UndersecretaryTerm of officePortraitNameAssumed officeLeft officeJames W. Holsinger, Jr., MDMarch 15, 1990September 27, 1994Kenneth W. Kizer, M.D., MPHSeptember 28, 1994September 7, 2000Thomas L. Garthwaite, MDSeptember 8, 2000March 21, 2002Robert H. Roswell, MDMarch 22, 2002April 6, 2004Jonathan Perlin M.D, PhD, MSHA, FACPApril 6, 2004 as Acting UndersecretaryApril 28, 2005April 28, 2005August 11, 2006Matthew J. Kussman MD, MS, MACPAugust 12, 2006 as Acting UndersecretaryMarch 25, 2007March 25, 2007May 9, 2009Gerald Cross, MDMay 10, 2009 as Acting UndersecretaryFebruary 17, 2010Robert Petzel, MDFebruary 18, 2010May 16, 2014Robert L. Jesse, M.D., Ph.DMay 16, 2014 as Principal Deputy UndersecretaryJuly 2, 2014Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D.July 2, 2014 as Interim UndersecretaryJune 23, 2015David Shulkin, MDJune 23, 2015February 14, 2017Poonam Alaigh, M.D.February 14, 2017 as Acting UndersecretaryOctober 7, 2017Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D.October 7, 2017 as Acting UndersecretaryJuly 16, 2018Richard A. Stone, M.D.July 16, 2018 as VHA Executive in ChargeJuly 17, 2021Steven L. Lieberman M.D, FACHE, FACP, MSAJuly 17, 2021https://www.va.gov/directory/guide/manager.asp?pnum=30320 as Acting Under SecretaryJuly 21, 2022Shereef ElnahalJuly 21, 2022January 20, 2025Steven L. Lieberman M.D, FACHE, FACP, MSAJanuary 20, 2025 as Acting Under SecretaryNovember 14, 2025John FigueroaNovember 14, 2025 as Senior Advisor, Performing the Duties of Under SecretaryJanuary 9, 2026John BartrumJanuary 9, 2026July 6, 2026https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/veterans/2026/07/07/vas-top-health-administrator-departs-post-temporary-replacement-named/John FigueroaJuly 6, 2026 as Senior Advisor, Acting Under SecretaryPresent
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