Andy Harris (politician) - Wikipedia

I understand your reasoning, truly, I do, however, I can only post not out that, having been on both sides, both as patient, as well as resident, while what you say has a good deal of merit, for obvious reasons, it would, in my estimation, be impractical, if only for the simple reason that the bulk of the VA task is clinical care...imcoild certainly envision a senior enlisted, possibly a former SMA, from Army, or any of the former senior corresponding enlisted of other svcs with clinical backgrounds, however, there is an entrenched cultural, institutional aspect to VA where the bulk of the staff were never in, I've observed, plus, eithernthat, or their close immediate family weren't in, esp amongst the cliniciams...it is, this absolutely imperative, at least to me, that a physician, preferably a combined physiaicn attorney, wuh direct legislative experience so as to be able to deal directly with Congress, be sought for the role....the mere aspect of having a senior enlisted be strict with civil servants simply wouldn't work, in my view, the rules for civil servants, and how to deal with them, are highly codified by OPM...plus, only physicians can deal with other physicians, I regret that, however, it is, unfortunately, true...further, VA, as with all healthcare organizations, is under the direct control of JCAHO, the Joint Commission, they are the ones who TRULY supervise all direct clinical care, in all hospitals, surgicemters, and offices doing surgical procedures...only a physiaicn can deal with JCAHO, I've seen it, I know, I assure you, look up the term sentinel event relative to JCAHO, and you'll see what I'm speaking about, as I said, I perceive your reasoning, however, trust !e, it honestly won't work, I assure you, however good the intentions might be, honest, at least in my view....

And the physician must be a veteran, that should be mandated by law, honest....