NEW YORK, Jan. 11 (UPI) — President-elect Donald Trump named Dr. David J. Shulkin his choice to be secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs on Wednesday.
The announcement came during Trump’s remarks preceding a press conference in New York.
Shulkin is currently the Veterans Administration’s undersecretary for health, a position making him leader of the nation’s largest integrated health system. He was nominated to the post by President Barack Obama in 2015. Prior to his appointment he served as CEO of New York’s Beth Israel Medical Center.
Former Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., and former Gov. Sarah Palin, R-Alaska, were at one time under consideration for the cabinet position. Shulkin’s nomination must be approved by the U.S. Senate.