Cleveland Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove has scratched his name off the list of candidates the White House is considering to nominate for the next person to serve in the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Post, according to a statement released from the health system cited in media reports.
In a written statement he explained that he would stay at the Cleveland Clinic:
“This has been an extraordinarily difficult decision, but I have decided to withdraw from consideration from this position and remain at the Cleveland Clinic, due to the commitment I have made to the organization, our patients and the work that still needs to be done here”
He also said he was “humbled and honored” to have been considered for the position. “As a physician, veteran, and hospital chief executive, I have great respect for the care provided to the Veteran community and for those who work to care for them,” he said in the statement cited by media reports.
The White House is looking for a replacement for Eric Shinseki who resigned last month amidst revelations over long wait times for veterans to access care and a cover up over those wait times.
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