AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) President and CEO David J. Skorton, MD, and Chief Public Policy Officer Danielle Turnipseed, JD, MHSA, MPP, issued the following statement on the confirmation of Doug Collins as the secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):
“The AAMC congratulates Doug Collins on his confirmation as secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 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. This relationship—built on the shared missions of medical education, patient care, and medical research—has improved the lives of veterans and ensured that they have access to state-of-the-art health care.
The academic medicine community and the VA work together to provide high-quality patient care to millions of veterans and their families. Through collaborative affiliations with AAMC member institutions, the VA has also played an essential role in shaping the way doctors are trained in this country, with approximately 70% of all physicians in the United States completing at least part of their training in VA facilities. In addition, this partnership has enabled medical research breakthroughs to move swiftly from bench to bedside, benefiting veterans and all patients.
This year, as we look to honor and celebrate the collaboration between the VA and academic medicine, our joint missions hold tremendous potential. 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.”