NEWS

Obama taps Morristown hospital president for VA

William Westhoven
@WWesthoven

President Barack Obama hopes to enlist Morristown Medical Center President Dr. David Shulkin to help straighten out the troubled U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The White House announced Wednesday that the president intends to nominate Shulkin as the new under secretary for Health, Department of Veterans Affairs.

Shulkin has served as president of Morristown Medical Center since 2010 and also as vice president of Atlantic Health. He came to Morristown from Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, where he was president and CEO.

“As both a physician and senior administrator, Dr. David Shulkin is an excellent candidate as the under secretary for health, Department of Veterans Affairs,” said Atlantic Health President and CEO Joseph Trunfio. “For five years, he has led both Morristown Medical Center and its parent company, Atlantic Health System, working successfully with critical stakeholders including doctors, patients, payors, government and the community. We wish him all the best.”

Atlantic Health spokesperson Robert Seman said Thursday that “Because of the highly sensitive nature of the nomination for under secretary for Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Shulkin will not be commenting at this time.”

Subject to confirmation by the United States Senate, Shulkin would have the enormous task of improving conditions in the nation’s largest healthcare system, which cares for 9 million military veterans in more than 1,700 facilities. The department has been under fire since last April, when a news report revealed that at least 35 veterans had died while waiting for care at Veteran’s Healthcare Administration facilities in Phoenix, Az.

Those revelations led to the retirement of the previous under secretary, Dr. Robert Petzel, in May, followed shortly by the resignation of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki.

Obama’s first nominee to replace Petzel for the undersecretary post, Jeffrey Murawsky, withdrew from consideration in June, saying he feared his confirmation could spark a prolonged political battle. Murawsky served as health care chief for the VA’s Chicago region.

Shulkin’s career also includes chief medical officer roles at Temple University Hospital and the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. As an academic, he also was vice dean and chairman of the Department of Medicine for Drexel University School of Medicine.

“Dr. David Shulkin’s leadership and experience with large health care systems makes him a superb candidate for the VA’s under secretary for health,” said Karen Kessler, chair, Atlantic Health System Board of Trustees. “Under his guidance, Morristown Medical Center has experienced dramatic growth for the last five years, and, among his many achievements as president of the hospital, has led the formation of the Atlantic Accountable Care Organization (AACO), one of the largest Medicare-approved ACOs in the country.”

Rich Umbdenstock, president And CEO of the American Hospital Association, said his organization supports Shulkin’s nomination.

“Dr. Shulkin’s rich health-care background includes service as both a physician and a health system leader,” he wrote on the association’s website. “In addition, his experience as an internist gives him hands-on experience and understanding of patient concerns. Dr. Shulkin is passionate about patient safety and quality and has dedicated his career to providing the right care at the right time to patients. His deep knowledge and experience in running complex organizations coupled with his clinical background will serve America’s veterans well.”

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-428-6627; wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com.