AAMC President and CEO David J. Skorton, MD, and Chief Public Policy Officer Danielle Turnipseed, JD, MHSA, MPP, issued a statement congratulating Doug Collins on his confirmation as secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on Feb. 4. “For nearly 80 years, academic medicine, made up of the nation’s medical schools, academic health systems, and teaching hospitals, have forged a robust partnership to advance the health of veterans,” the statement read. “The AAMC looks forward to working with Secretary Collins and the dedicated VA staff to build on our impactful and historic partnership to provide high-quality care to those veterans who have bravely and selflessly served this country.”
The Senate voted 77-23 to confirm Collins as secretary of the VA with a total of 21 Democrats and two Independents joining every Republican in voting to approve the nomination. The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee voted to advance Collins’ nomination by a vote of 18-1 on Jan. 23 [refer to Washington Highlights, Jan. 24].
Committee Chair Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), in a statement congratulating Collins on his confirmation, noted, “He has displayed to my colleagues and me that he is prepared to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs into the future and support the everchanging needs of our nation’s veterans by making certain they receive the timely and quality health care and benefits they have rightfully earned.”
- Washington Highlights