WASHINGTON: Petzel heads VA's Health Care System

Robert A. Petzel, MD, has taken the oath of office as the Under Secretary for Health within the Department of Veterans Affairs, stepping up to lead the nation's largest integrated healthcare system. Petzel had been Acting Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health since May 2009. Previously, he directed one of VA's 21 geographic healthcare networks covering eight medical centers and 42 community based outpatient clinics serving veterans in seven Midwestern states.