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Brig. Gen. Michael J. Kussman, M.D., (US Army Ret) was appointed Deputy Under Secretary for Health for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs on May 29, 2005. In this capacity, he leads the clinical policy and programs for the nation’s largest integrated health care system.
VHA provides health care to more than 5.1 million veterans and 7.6 million enrollees throughout the United States. With a medical care budget of approximately $30 billion, VHA directly employs more than 196,500 health care professionals at more than 1,300 sites of care, including hospitals, community and facility-based clinics, nursing homes, domiciliaries, readjustment counseling centers, and various other facilities. In addition to its medical care mission, VHA is the nation's largest provider of graduate medical education and a major contributor to medical and scientific research. More than 125,000 volunteers, 80,000 health profession trainees, and 25,000 affiliated medical faculties are also an integral part of the VHA community.
Dr. Kussman is a native of Troy, N.Y. He earned a bachelor’s and medical degree from Boston University in 1968. He earned a master’s degree in management from Salve Regina University in 1994. Dr. Kussman began his military career in 1970, serving with the 7th Infantry Division in Korea. He left active duty in 1972 to resume medical training and complete his residency at the Joslin Clinic in Boston. From 1974 to 1979, Dr. Kussman worked in private practice in Pittsfield, Mass.
In 1979, Dr, Kussman returned to active duty at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, serving as chief of Internal Medicine. He later served as division surgeon for the 25th Infantry Division, Hawaii. From 1984 to 1988, Dr. Kussman served as chief of the Department of Medicine at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. He completed his tour there as deputy commander for Clinical Services.
Dr. Kussman became the Army Surgeon General’s chief consultant in Internal Medicine and governor for the Army Region of the American College of Physicians in 1988. He commanded Martin Army Community Hospital at Ft. Benning, Ga., from March 1993 to August 1995, and later commanded Walter Reed Health Care System in Washington, D.C., where he was promoted to brigadier general.
Following his tour at Walter Reed, Dr. Kussman served as commander of the Europe Regional Medical Command, command surgeon for U.S. Army Europe, and TRICARE lead agent for Europe. He was responsible for Army health care throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Dr. Kussman is a graduate of the Army War College and an honor graduate of the Command and General Staff College. His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal (the highest award given in peace time), Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Order of Military Medical Merit. Dr. Kussman received the prestigious “A” designator from the Army Surgeon General, which identifies professorial rank, and the Laureate Award from the American College of Physicians/American Society of Internal Medicine as well as being selected as a Master of the College. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and serves on the faculty of the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences.
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