david jonathon shulkin (born june 22, 1959) is an american physician and politician. shulkin was the 9th united states secretary of veterans affairs from february 14, 2017 to march 28, 2018. he served as under secretary of health for the u.s. department of veterans affairs. he was nominated by president barack obama on march 18, 2015 and sworn in on july 6, 2015.