President Obama has nominated Army Reserve Brig. Gen. Jonathan Woodson to the position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Woodson would replace Dr. S. Ward Casscells, who was appointed to the job in 2007 and resigned in April 2009.
"It is an honor and a privilege to be asked to serve in this capacity and to assist wounded warriors and their families," Woodson told Government Health IT.
He declined to comment further, saying the White House instructed him to decline press interviews until after his confirmation.
As assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, Woodson would be the principal adviser to the secretary of defense on health issues and would oversee the Military Health System. He would also be responsible for setting medical health standards for enlistments and deployments.
According to his official Department of Defense biography, Woodson's current research interest is in health outcomes research, particularly in the area of functional outcomes in limb salvage vascular surgery. He has authored or coauthored several articles and book chapters on this topic.
Among his military postings, Woodson has served in forward positions in the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan; as a surgeon at the 86th Evacuation Hospital in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm; and as chief of surgery for the 804th Medical Brigade in Kosovo. He has also supported several Army medical programs in Central America.
Woodson was part of the Office of Emergency Management's International Surgical and Medical Response Team which responded to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack at the World Trade Center in New York.
Woodson received his medical education at New York University School of Medicine. He also holds a master's degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.
