Posted on Jan 11, 2017
Trump Announces David Shulkin As Pick For Secretary Of Veterans Affairs
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I learned this morning that President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Medical Doctor David Shulkin as his choice for Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Hopefully David Shulkin will be confirmed and serve as a great VA Secretary. I am glad that a physician has been selected to lead the department.
Trump Announces David Shulkin As Pick For Secretary Of Veterans Affairs
January 11, 2017
CAMILA DOMONOSKE
David Shulkin, the under secretary for health at the Department of Veterans Affairs, leaves a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump on Monday at Trump Tower in New York.
Evan Vucci/AP
President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he plans to nominate David Shulkin to be his secretary of veterans affairs, a position that requires Senate confirmation.
Shulkin is currently the under secretary for health at the VA, which means he runs the Veterans Health Administration. He was nominated for that position by President Obama in March 2015 and confirmed by the Senate that June.
Shulkin's official bio says he is a physician — a board-certified internist — and was the chief executive or chief medical officer of several hospitals and hospital systems. He's also an entrepreneur who founded a health care information company called DoctorQuality.
Notably, he's not a veteran. As NPR's Quil Lawrence reported last month, the VA has always been headed by a veteran.
"I have no doubt Dr. Shulkin will be able to lead the turnaround our Department of Veterans Affairs needs," Trump said in a statement following the announcement. "Dr. Shulkin has the experience and the vision to ensure we will meet the healthcare needs of every veteran."
Veterans Choice Program Will Get Better, VA's Shulkin Says
Last year, NPR and several member stations jointly reported on the flaws and failures of the VA's "Veterans Choice" program, which is meant to allow veterans to find private doctors.
As the head of the Veterans Health Administration, Shulkin spoke with NPR about the experiences of veterans left waiting months for treatment under the program.
"When I hear stories like that, it's completely unacceptable," he told NPR:
"The first responsibility that we have to our veterans is to make sure those that need urgent care are getting care on time.
"This is a different VA. We've brought in people from the outside who have private sector experience. And what we're saying is that we have to do business differently. ... We know how to make this program work better."
Trump considered a series of possible VA secretaries before deciding on Shulkin — he said on Wednesday that he interviewed more than 100 candidates.
Quil reported that the president-elect met with Iraq veteran Pete Hegseth, who favors privatizing VA health care, as well as former Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.), who's a National Guard veteran. Just-retired Republican Rep. Jeff Miller, who was the head of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, was a Trump adviser who was also considered a candidate.
Both Politico and The Washington Post report that several possible candidates for VA secretary rejected Trump's overtures.
The secretary of agriculture and chair of the council of economic advisers are the only cabinet-level positions for which Trump still has not announced his choice of nominee.
Hopefully David Shulkin will be confirmed and serve as a great VA Secretary. I am glad that a physician has been selected to lead the department.
Trump Announces David Shulkin As Pick For Secretary Of Veterans Affairs
January 11, 2017
CAMILA DOMONOSKE
David Shulkin, the under secretary for health at the Department of Veterans Affairs, leaves a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump on Monday at Trump Tower in New York.
Evan Vucci/AP
President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he plans to nominate David Shulkin to be his secretary of veterans affairs, a position that requires Senate confirmation.
Shulkin is currently the under secretary for health at the VA, which means he runs the Veterans Health Administration. He was nominated for that position by President Obama in March 2015 and confirmed by the Senate that June.
Shulkin's official bio says he is a physician — a board-certified internist — and was the chief executive or chief medical officer of several hospitals and hospital systems. He's also an entrepreneur who founded a health care information company called DoctorQuality.
Notably, he's not a veteran. As NPR's Quil Lawrence reported last month, the VA has always been headed by a veteran.
"I have no doubt Dr. Shulkin will be able to lead the turnaround our Department of Veterans Affairs needs," Trump said in a statement following the announcement. "Dr. Shulkin has the experience and the vision to ensure we will meet the healthcare needs of every veteran."
Veterans Choice Program Will Get Better, VA's Shulkin Says
Last year, NPR and several member stations jointly reported on the flaws and failures of the VA's "Veterans Choice" program, which is meant to allow veterans to find private doctors.
As the head of the Veterans Health Administration, Shulkin spoke with NPR about the experiences of veterans left waiting months for treatment under the program.
"When I hear stories like that, it's completely unacceptable," he told NPR:
"The first responsibility that we have to our veterans is to make sure those that need urgent care are getting care on time.
"This is a different VA. We've brought in people from the outside who have private sector experience. And what we're saying is that we have to do business differently. ... We know how to make this program work better."
Trump considered a series of possible VA secretaries before deciding on Shulkin — he said on Wednesday that he interviewed more than 100 candidates.
Quil reported that the president-elect met with Iraq veteran Pete Hegseth, who favors privatizing VA health care, as well as former Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.), who's a National Guard veteran. Just-retired Republican Rep. Jeff Miller, who was the head of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, was a Trump adviser who was also considered a candidate.
Both Politico and The Washington Post report that several possible candidates for VA secretary rejected Trump's overtures.
The secretary of agriculture and chair of the council of economic advisers are the only cabinet-level positions for which Trump still has not announced his choice of nominee.
Trump Announces David Shulkin As Pick For Secretary Of Veterans Affairs
Posted from npr.orgPosted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Donald Trump
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Donald Trump
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 3
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I suppose that's a good choice. I might have been happier with a retired member of the Medical Services Corps. They're the ones with real administrative background. I respect doctors but am inclined to think of them more as master plumbers than administrators. Fortunately, the non-medical services divisions of the VA appear to be functioning well. I haven't heard any complaints there. Have you?
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LTC Stephen F.
I know several medical doctors including one who left the VA in frustration CPT Jack Durish. In the VA medical center system medical doctors, physician assistants, and nurses decisions and treatment recommendations are reviewed by non-medical personnel who can and sometime do change the medical decisions. That is unconscionable IMHO.
That is why I have been advocating for a significant cleanup in the VA medical reporting system.
That is why I have been advocating for a significant cleanup in the VA medical reporting system.
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Capt Jeff S.
My problem with the VA isn't with the doctors but rather with the VA "Administration" as in the bureaucracy in which they must operate. That said other than having to pay for what I was promised would be free when I joined, I am satisfied with the health care I have received thus far.
As an aside, Healthcare, Big Pharma, Big Corp*, Bankers and Lawyers have been enriching themselves by fleecing the working class. Would be nice to see some sanity return to our economy.
* includes the Military Industrial Complex, Energy Producers (Big Oil), giant multinationals that build plants overseas for cheap labor, and the giant food producers (Kellogg's, Perdue, General Mills, PepsiCo, etc.) and the FDA they lobby that allows them that feed us chemicals and garbage. Food quality sucks and prices are getting out of control. I bring this up because a lot of people's medical problems that cause them to seek healthcare remedies are brought on by the stress of trying to make ends meet exacerbated by the garbage they eat.
The public's confidence gov't is at an all-time low.
As an aside, Healthcare, Big Pharma, Big Corp*, Bankers and Lawyers have been enriching themselves by fleecing the working class. Would be nice to see some sanity return to our economy.
* includes the Military Industrial Complex, Energy Producers (Big Oil), giant multinationals that build plants overseas for cheap labor, and the giant food producers (Kellogg's, Perdue, General Mills, PepsiCo, etc.) and the FDA they lobby that allows them that feed us chemicals and garbage. Food quality sucks and prices are getting out of control. I bring this up because a lot of people's medical problems that cause them to seek healthcare remedies are brought on by the stress of trying to make ends meet exacerbated by the garbage they eat.
The public's confidence gov't is at an all-time low.
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Ridiculous call your senator and congressman , a non veteran running the VA for the first time in history? Maybe we got the wool pulled over our eyes by the American Medical Association (AMA) interest by voting Trump into office. Remember Trump was a 5 time deferment from the Vietnam War. His hotels offer no military or veteran discount. He made a lot of promises let's see if he honors his word.
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Sgt Bob Leonard
SSgt Boyd Welch - Donald Trump's Selective Service Record.
https://static01.nyt.com/images/2016/08/02/us/politics/02trumpvietnam-record/02trumpvietnam-record-superJumbo.jpg
Line 10: Trump, Donald John
7/28/64 2S
12/14/65 2S
11/22/66 1A
12/13/66 2S
1/16/68 2S
Graduated Wharton School of Business, 6/68
7/9/68 1A
10/15/68 1Y "qualified for service only in time of war or national emergency"
2/1/72 4F (12/71, 1Y classification was eliminated, administratively changed to 4F)
After he graduated from Wharton, young Mr. Trump was no longer eligible for a 2S deferment and was reclassified 1A. So he found a doctor who wrote a letter to his Draft Board telling them that, even though he was an award winning athlete in football, tennis, and squash, he had bone spurs in his heel that rendered him too fragile for the rigors of marching and combat and all that stuff.
I don't get too upset about Mr. Trump riding his 2S deferment for four years. I don't get too upset about him finding a doctor to write a letter about his "crippling" bone spurs. (I'm even less upset about those who moved to Canada. They at least had to face the fact they were giving up something significant to avoid the draft. All Donald Trump invested in being a draft dodger was a few dollars of his daddy's millions, paid to a doctor to write a letter.)
When a VET gave his Purple Heart to Mr. Trump, and Mr. Trump said, "I always wanted one of these.", I was almost physically sick. Not upset with the VET. It's his Medal and he can do with it as he wishes. But somebody needs to make it clear to Mr. Trump there's only one way you earn a Purple Heart. That's to be wounded or killed in Service to this Country. In order to do that you first have to don the Uniform and take up arms against an enemy, not hide behind a doctor's note.
https://static01.nyt.com/images/2016/08/02/us/politics/02trumpvietnam-record/02trumpvietnam-record-superJumbo.jpg
Line 10: Trump, Donald John
7/28/64 2S
12/14/65 2S
11/22/66 1A
12/13/66 2S
1/16/68 2S
Graduated Wharton School of Business, 6/68
7/9/68 1A
10/15/68 1Y "qualified for service only in time of war or national emergency"
2/1/72 4F (12/71, 1Y classification was eliminated, administratively changed to 4F)
After he graduated from Wharton, young Mr. Trump was no longer eligible for a 2S deferment and was reclassified 1A. So he found a doctor who wrote a letter to his Draft Board telling them that, even though he was an award winning athlete in football, tennis, and squash, he had bone spurs in his heel that rendered him too fragile for the rigors of marching and combat and all that stuff.
I don't get too upset about Mr. Trump riding his 2S deferment for four years. I don't get too upset about him finding a doctor to write a letter about his "crippling" bone spurs. (I'm even less upset about those who moved to Canada. They at least had to face the fact they were giving up something significant to avoid the draft. All Donald Trump invested in being a draft dodger was a few dollars of his daddy's millions, paid to a doctor to write a letter.)
When a VET gave his Purple Heart to Mr. Trump, and Mr. Trump said, "I always wanted one of these.", I was almost physically sick. Not upset with the VET. It's his Medal and he can do with it as he wishes. But somebody needs to make it clear to Mr. Trump there's only one way you earn a Purple Heart. That's to be wounded or killed in Service to this Country. In order to do that you first have to don the Uniform and take up arms against an enemy, not hide behind a doctor's note.
02trumpvietnam-record-superJumbo.jpg
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SSgt Boyd Welch
Not everyone who dons the uniform does so with honor (John Kerry who was outed by his comrades comes to mind)There were a lot of politicians who intervened with money to members of local draft boards. I was bitter for a lot of years over my brothers death in SE Asia in addition to my own service. The only way I see to fix the system when America decides to fight on foreign soil, is to immediately draft all legal age children of politicians, train them and send them. Maybe then we could put an end to these protracted "police actions" that achieve nothing but death and spending like we have had for the last 5 decades. Thank you for your service Sgt. Leonard.
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Sgt Bob Leonard
SSgt Boyd Welch - John Kerry's Vietnam Crew Mates Still Fighting Swift Boating
June 20, 2008; 6:05 PM ET
The men who served with Kerry on Patrol Craft Fast 94 sent a 13-page letter to (T. Boone) Pickens on Friday picking apart in excruciating detail the SBVT's (Swift Boat Veterans for Truth) claims that Kerry wasn't truly worthy of the Silver Star, Bronze Star and two purple hearts he was awarded for his service in Vietnam. The debunking letter includes a thorough defense of the Vietnamese enemy fighter who Kerry killed, an incident the Swift Boaters in 2004 described as a murder of an harmless young Viet Cong.
"Mr. Pickens: the lies put forward by the SBVT are so plentiful and outrageous, from the significant to the trivial, that we would lose your attention going through all of them," the veterans write. "You've only challenged us to show one thing was false but this is important enough to all of us that we will do that and more so that you fully comprehend the nature of the people you've been dealing with and consequences of your support for them."
The letter was accompanied by pages and pages of Vietnam documents and other evidence to back up their defense, including a 2004 letter from the Naval inspector general asserting Senator Kerry's medals were properly awarded.
http://voices.washingtonpost(DOT)com/sleuth/2008/06/john_kerrys_vietnam_crew_mates.html
I have read elsewhere interviews with former shipmates (Boatmates?) who served with Kerry. ALL of them, with one exception, said the allegations made against Kerry were false. This included men who agreed and disagreed with him politically; they were consistent in their support of his Service record. Those who had anything to say about the one former mate who started the Swift Boat scandal said he was a kind of lone wolf who didn't fit in. They didn't know why he would make the allegations he did, but they were consistent in saying those allegations were false.
You said, "The only way I see to fix the system when America decides to fight on foreign soil, is to immediately draft all legal age children of politicians, train them and send them."
I agree that is one way to address the issue of virtually non-stop US Military involvement in something, somewhere in the world, since 1941. I think a more equitable and effective solution would be some kind of mandatory service requirement for anyone seeking any kind of Gov't. assistance. (For example, Nat'l Guard or Reserve commitment in order to receive college tuition aid. But not limiting it to Military service; VISTA or Peace Corps, or similar... Some kind of commitment which requires the individual to do something that benefits someone else and the Country.)
June 20, 2008; 6:05 PM ET
The men who served with Kerry on Patrol Craft Fast 94 sent a 13-page letter to (T. Boone) Pickens on Friday picking apart in excruciating detail the SBVT's (Swift Boat Veterans for Truth) claims that Kerry wasn't truly worthy of the Silver Star, Bronze Star and two purple hearts he was awarded for his service in Vietnam. The debunking letter includes a thorough defense of the Vietnamese enemy fighter who Kerry killed, an incident the Swift Boaters in 2004 described as a murder of an harmless young Viet Cong.
"Mr. Pickens: the lies put forward by the SBVT are so plentiful and outrageous, from the significant to the trivial, that we would lose your attention going through all of them," the veterans write. "You've only challenged us to show one thing was false but this is important enough to all of us that we will do that and more so that you fully comprehend the nature of the people you've been dealing with and consequences of your support for them."
The letter was accompanied by pages and pages of Vietnam documents and other evidence to back up their defense, including a 2004 letter from the Naval inspector general asserting Senator Kerry's medals were properly awarded.
http://voices.washingtonpost(DOT)com/sleuth/2008/06/john_kerrys_vietnam_crew_mates.html
I have read elsewhere interviews with former shipmates (Boatmates?) who served with Kerry. ALL of them, with one exception, said the allegations made against Kerry were false. This included men who agreed and disagreed with him politically; they were consistent in their support of his Service record. Those who had anything to say about the one former mate who started the Swift Boat scandal said he was a kind of lone wolf who didn't fit in. They didn't know why he would make the allegations he did, but they were consistent in saying those allegations were false.
You said, "The only way I see to fix the system when America decides to fight on foreign soil, is to immediately draft all legal age children of politicians, train them and send them."
I agree that is one way to address the issue of virtually non-stop US Military involvement in something, somewhere in the world, since 1941. I think a more equitable and effective solution would be some kind of mandatory service requirement for anyone seeking any kind of Gov't. assistance. (For example, Nat'l Guard or Reserve commitment in order to receive college tuition aid. But not limiting it to Military service; VISTA or Peace Corps, or similar... Some kind of commitment which requires the individual to do something that benefits someone else and the Country.)
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Sgt Bob Leonard
SSgt Boyd Welch - Forgive me for getting too focused on a particular issue and not seeing the person in front of me. I'm sure it's little comfort, especially at this late date, but I'm sorry you lost your brother in SEA. And glad you made it back.
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