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Congressman Crow Welcomes VA Under Secretary Elnahal to Colorado for Oversight Visit & VA Employee Town Hall

March 6, 2024

Crow, VA leadership continue addressing concerns of staff dedicated to serving Colorado veterans and their families

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View Press Conference Remarks Here

View Press Conference Remarks Here(link is external)

AURORA — This week, Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06), Army veteran, joined US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Under Secretary for Health, Dr. Shereef Elnahal at Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center (RMVA) to conduct an oversight visit with new leadership and departmental chiefs and host a town hall with over 400 VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (VA ECHS) employees attending in-person and virtually. Crow and Under Secretary Elnahal were joined by VA ECHS Interim Medical Director Michael Moore, PhD, incoming Interim Chief of Staff Vicki Callahan, outgoing Interim Chief of Staff Dr. Mark H. Kadowaki, and Network Director Sunaina Kumar-Giebel. 

The opportunity to hear directly from VA ECHS frontline workers at Colorado’s largest VA hospital comes after Congressman Crow’s recent bipartisan letter with Colorado’s Congressional delegation calling for urgent VA action to address ongoing staffing issues and safety risks. Previously, Crow sent a letter to Under Secretary Elnahal requesting more information on allegations that RMVA’s prosthetics department canceled veterans’ orders, and continued engagement to deliver the quality care veterans and their families have earned in Colorado’s 6th District. 

In a press availability, Congressman Crow and Under Secretary Elnahal highlighted opportunities to advocate on behalf of staff and ensure the wellbeing of those who dedicate their lives to serving veterans.

“I will continue to push for improvements to the VA system, but it’s clear VA employees’ dedicated professionalism and the high level of care they provide to our veterans day in and out will not waver, despite challenges faced,” said Congressman Crow.

“I want to thank Representative Crow for joining me in an important town hall. This is an extraordinary medical center with extraordinary people, often dealing with conditions veterans come in with that are extraordinarily difficult – and that was evident today,” said Dr. Shereef Elnahal, VA Under Secretary for Health. “I first came here back in November and shortly after that, began investigating every aspect of the organization, patient safety, and employees’ ability to speak up when they see a vulnerability for veteran care. It is our responsibility to be there for every single veteran who needs us. The most important thing we can do is learn from these incidents, make that environment of care safer, and support our employees who dedicate themselves to delivering high class, high quality care to every veteran.”

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Rep. Crow and Dr. Shereef Elnahal, VA Under Secretary for Health, with VA ECHS leaders.

Rep. Crow and Dr. Shereef Elnahal, VA Under Secretary for Health, with VA ECHS leaders. 

Photo courtesy of the Office of Congressman Jason Crow

The VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (VA ECHCS) functions as a complexity level 1A facility, accredited by the Joint Commission, covering a significant area of over 44,000 square miles. Its main campus, Aurora's Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center is located in Colorado's 6th District.

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Rep. Crow and Dr. Shereef Elnahal, VA Under Secretary for Health, with VA ECHS employees.

Rep. Crow and Dr. Shereef Elnahal, VA Under Secretary for Health, with VA ECHS employees. 

Photo courtesy of the Office of Congressman Jason Crow  

Colorado’s 6th District is home to over 35,000 veterans. Congressman Crow’s office remains available to assist any individual veteran who is impacted.