Ronny Jackson

Ronny Jackson
Physician to the President
In office
July 25, 2013 – March 28, 2018
President Barack Obama
Donald Trump
Preceded by Jeffrey Kuhlman
Succeeded by Sean Conley (Acting)
Personal details
Born Ronny Lynn Jackson
(1967-05-04) May 4, 1967
Levelland, Texas, U.S.
Spouse(s) Jane Ely
Children 3
Education Texas A&M University (BS)
University of Texas Medical Branch (MD)
Military service
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch  United States Navy
Years of service 1995–present
Rank Rear admiral (Lower half)
Unit Medical Corps
Battles/wars Iraq War
Awards Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4)

Ronny Lynn Jackson (born May 4, 1967) is an American physician and a rear admiral in the United States Navy. Beginning in the White House Medical Unit in the mid-2000s, Jackson was appointed to the role of Physician to the President on July 25, 2013, by Barack Obama and was retained by Donald Trump after his inauguration in January 2017.[1][2]

On March 28, 2018, President Donald Trump nominated Jackson to be United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs to succeed David Shulkin.[2][3][4] On April 23, 2018, allegations were publicized against Jackson alleging misconduct and mismanagement during his service in the White House.[5][6][7] The administration disputed the allegations.[8][9] Concern was also expressed about Jackson's lack of management experience.[2][10] On April 26, 2018, Jackson withdrew his nomination as Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He returned to duty with the White House Medical Unit but will no longer serve as Physician to the President.[9][11][12]

Early life

Jackson was born to Waymon and Norma Jackson and raised in the small town of Levelland, Texas. One of three children, Jackson has a brother Gary and a sister Stacy who still live and work in Levelland.[13] He attended Texas A&M University graduating in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology. He went on to attend medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch, receiving his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1995.[14]

Career

Jackson is a board-certified diplomate of the American Board of Emergency Medicine and is designated as a fellow of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine.[15] He currently holds faculty clinical appointments with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Harvard School of Medicine-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Disaster Medicine Fellowship Program.[16]

Jackson began his active duty naval service in 1995 at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, where he completed his internship in transitional medicine in 1996. He went on to become the honor graduate of the Navy’s Undersea Medical Officer Program in Groton, Connecticut. Qualified in submarine and hyperbaric medicine, he subsequently took on operational assignments including: instructor at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, Florida; detachment officer in charge and diving medical officer at Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 8 in Sigonella, Italy; and diving safety officer at the Naval Safety Center in Norfolk.[17]

In 2001, Jackson returned to Portsmouth Naval Medical Center to begin his residency in emergency medicine, finishing at the top of his class and receiving the honor graduate designation. Upon completing his residency in 2004, he was assigned as clinical faculty in the Emergency Medicine Residency Program at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. In 2005, he joined the 2nd Marine Logistics Group, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From there he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the emergency medicine physician in charge of resuscitative medicine for a forward deployed Surgical Shock Trauma Platoon in Taqaddum, Iraq.[14]

Jackson departs Walter Reed National Military Medical Center with President Barack Obama in 2015

In 2006, while still in Iraq, Jackson was selected as a White House physician. Since arriving at the White House, he has directed the Executive Health Care for the President’s Cabinet and senior staff, served as physician supervisor for the Camp David Presidential Retreat, held the position of physician to the White House and led the White House Medical Unit as its director. He has served as White House physician during the past three administrations and was the appointed physician to the president for President Obama. In January 2017, Jackson made headlines after treating a girl who was bitten by Sunny, one of the Obamas' dogs.[18][19] President Trump retained him as Physician to the President upon his inauguration in January 2017.[20]

He was nominated to the rank of rear admiral (upper half) on March 23, 2018.[21]

Secretary of Veterans Affairs nomination

On March 28, 2018, President Donald Trump announced that he planned to replace David Shulkin with Ronny Jackson as secretary of Veterans Affairs.[2][22][23] Some senators expressed skepticism of the nomination due to Jackson's lack of management experience.[2][10]

On April 23, 2018, the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs postponed a hearing on his nomination after current and former employees on the White House medical staff accused Jackson of creating a hostile work environment, excessively drinking on the job, and improperly dispensing medication.[24][25] Senator Jon Tester told CNN on April 24 that Jackson was known as "the candy man" inside the White House, according to around 20 people who brought these concerns to the Veterans' Affairs Senate Committee. He would allegedly hand out Ambien, Provigil, and other prescription drugs "like they were candy".[26] CNN also reported that during an overseas trip in 2015, an intoxicated Jackson loudly knocked on the hotel room door of a female employee, so noisily that the United States Secret Service reportedly stopped him to prevent him potentially waking up then-President Barack Obama.[27] President Trump responded during a news conference the next day, defending Jackson as "one of the finest people that I have met", but also implying that Jackson may withdraw from being considered for the position due to the stress associated with unsubstantiated scrutiny.[25] On April 27, 2018, the Secret Service reported that it had no records of any incidents involving Jackson having caused any commotions in hotels in 2015 when Secret Service personnel were guarding President Obama.[28]

Jackson withdrew himself from consideration for the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs nomination on April 26, 2018, after the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs began formally investigating the allegations.[29][30] Jackson insisted that the allegations were "completely false and fabricated" and said he was withdrawing because the controversy has become a distraction for Trump and his agenda.[30] On April 29, Politico reported that Jackson will continue to work in the White House Medical Unit but will not be returning to his position as the President's personal physician, to be replaced by Navy officer Sean Conley, who took over the role a month earlier.[31]

Personal life

Jackson's family includes his wife, Jane, and children Ben, Elizabeth, and Matthew Jackson.[13]

Awards and decorations

Jackson's decorations, awards, and badges include, among others:[14]

 
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze eagle atop globe covering anchor
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
1st row Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit
2nd row Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ three ​5⁄16" Gold Stars Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal w/ two ​5⁄16" Gold Stars Joint Meritorious Unit Award Navy Unit Commendation w/ one ​3⁄16" bronze star
3rd row Navy and Marine Corps Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ two ​3⁄16" bronze stars Navy Expeditionary Medal National Defense Service Medal w/ one ​3⁄16" bronze star Kosovo Campaign Medal w/ one ​3⁄16" bronze star
4th row Iraq Campaign Medal with Fleet Marine Force Combat Operation Insignia Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Armed Forces Service Medal Navy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ two ​3⁄16" bronze stars
5th row Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon w/ one ​3⁄16" bronze star NATO Medal for Yugoslavia Service w/ one ​3⁄16" bronze star Navy Expert Rifleman Medal Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal
Badges Fleet Marine Force insignia Parachutist Badge
Badges Navy Diving Medical Officer Badge Presidential Service Badge

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Trump is keeping Obama's White House doctor for now". STAT. February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Rein, Lisa; Rucker, Philip; Wax-Thibodeaux, Emily; Dawsey, Josh (March 29, 2018). "Trump taps his doctor to replace Shulkin at VA, choosing personal chemistry over traditional qualifications". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  3. ↑ Ballhaus, Rebecca; Kesling, Ben (March 28, 2018). "Donald Trump Ousts VA Secretary David Shulkin". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 28, 2018. (Subscription required (help)).
  4. ↑ PN1847 — Ronny Lynn Jackson — Department of Veterans Affairs, Library of Congress.
  5. ↑ Correspondent, Manu Raju, Senior Congressional. "Pence's doctor alerted WH aides about Ronny Jackson concerns last fall". CNN. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  6. ↑ "Pence's doctor accused Ronny Jackson of misconduct while treating second lady". Press Herald. 2018-05-01. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  7. ↑ Porter, Tom (April 30, 2018). "Ronny Jackson will not return as Trump's physician following drunkenness and misconduct allegations". Newsweek. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  8. ↑ Khan, Mariam (April 27, 2018). "Secret Service disputes allegation against Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson". ABC News. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  9. 1 2 Shear, Michael D. (April 27, 2018). "White House Says Records Don't Match Accusation Against Jackson". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  10. 1 2 Kim, Seung Min (April 1, 2018). "Senate Republicans express concerns about Trump's choice to lead Veterans Affairs". Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  11. ↑ Korade, Matt (April 30, 2018). "Ronny Jackson will not return as Trump's physician, Politico reports". CNN. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  12. ↑ Rhodan, Maya (April 30, 2018). "White House: Ronny Jackson Is Not Leaving His Post". Time. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  13. 1 2 Westbrook, Ray (January 26, 2018). "Presidents consult Rear Adm. Dr. Ronny Jackson, Levelland native". Lubbockonline.com. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  14. 1 2 3 "Rear Admiral Ronny L. Jackson". US Navy. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  15. ↑ "United States Navy Biographies – Rear Admiral Ronny L. Jackson". United States Navy. December 11, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Core Faculty". BIDMC [Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center] Fellowship in Disaster Medicine. Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians at BIDMC, Inc. Retrieved March 28, 2018. BIDMC Fellowship in Disaster Medicine is a one-year program designed to provide qualified fellows the opportunity to develop an expertise in the related fields of Disaster Medicine (DM) and Emergency Management (EM).
  17. ↑ Gromelski, Joe (29 March 2018). "Scandal-wounded Shulkin cites fight over privatization as factor in ouster". Stars and Stripes. Centreville, VA. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  18. ↑ Blake, Aaron (March 29, 2018). "Analysis | Who is Trump's new Veterans Affairs pick, Ronny Jackson?". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  19. ↑ Fuster, Jeremy (January 12, 2017). "Presidential Dog Bite: Sunny Injures a White House Guest". TheWrap. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  20. ↑ Kutner, Max (January 12, 2018). "Who is Trump's doctor, White House physician Ronny Jackson?". Newsweek. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  21. ↑ Merica, Dan (March 23, 2018). "The President's doctor is getting promoted". CNN. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  22. ↑ Fandos, Nicholas; Haberman, Maggie (March 28, 2018). "Veterans Affairs Secretary Is Latest to Go as Trump Shakes Up Cabinet". New York Times. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  23. ↑ Holland, Steve (March 29, 2018). "Trump pushes out Shulkin at VA, nominates Jackson as replacement". Reuters. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  24. ↑ Kim, Seung Min; Rein, Lisa; Dawsey, Josh (April 23, 2018). "Senate to postpone confirmation hearing for Ronny Jackson to head Veterans Affairs, White House officials told". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  25. 1 2 Fandos, Nicholas; Shear, Michael D. (April 24, 2018). "After Trump Hints V.A. Nominee Might Drop Out, an Aggressive Show of Support". The New York Times. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  26. ↑ Tatum, Sophie (April 24, 2018). "Sen. Tester: VA nominee handed out prescriptions 'like candy'". CNN. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  27. ↑ Summers, Juana; Raju, Manu (April 25, 2018). "VA nominee drunkenly banged on female employee's door during trip, sources say". CNN. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  28. ↑ Khan, Mariam (April 27, 2018). "Secret Service disputes allegation against Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson". ABC News. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  29. ↑ Holland, Steve; Rampton, Roberta (April 26, 2018). "White House doctor steps back from Trump veterans job after controversy". Reuters. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  30. 1 2 Foran, Clare; Summers, Juana; Diamond, Jeremy (April 26, 2018). "Ronny Jackson withdraws as VA secretary nominee". CNN. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  31. ↑ Johnson, Eliana (April 29, 2018). "Ronny Jackson won't return to old job as Trump's physician". Politico. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
Military offices
Preceded by
Jeffrey Kuhlman		 Physician to the President
2013–2018		 Succeeded by
Sean Conley
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