100 Most Influential People in Healthcare - 2017
Rank 41
David Shulkin,
58
Secretary, Veterans Affairs Department
- Compensation: $367,500
- Years on list: 2
Shulkin was confirmed as the ninth secretary of the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department in February 2017. Prior to his confirmation, Shulkin was the VA's undersecretary for health, leading the nation's largest integrated healthcare system, with more than 1,700 sites of care serving nearly 9 million veterans. He played a key role in improving access for veterans after the agency came under fire for quality issues and lengthy waiting times to see a VA clinician. Earlier this year, Shulkin announced plans to loosen restrictions under the Veterans Choice program, enacted under the Obama administration, which enables veterans to see practitioners outside the VA. He is also leading a program to greatly expand the VA's use of telehealth.