John R. Pierce, M.D., Colonel Medical Corps, U.S. Army (Retired) is currently the Medical Inspector for the Veterans Health Administration and leads the Office of the Medical Inspector in VA Central Office. He has held this position since November 2004. He came to VA as Deputy Medical Inspector in January 2002.
The Office of the Medical Inspector independently investigates health care issues raised by veterans and other stakeholders to monitor and improve the quality of care provided by VHA. The Office of Medical Inspector strives to continually improve the quality of veterans' health care by investigating issues related to the quality of care and analyzing the clinical systems providing that care. Based on these analyses, the OMI recommends changes in local and national VHA systems.
Dr. Pierce who is board certified in pediatrics and neonatal-perinatal medicine served on active duty in the U.S. Army Medical Corps for thirty years. His duty stations were Hawaii, Germany, Colorado and Washington, D.C. His assignments included Chief, Department of Pediatrics and residency program director, Deputy Commander for Clinical Services and Director of Medical Education all at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He also served as Consultant in Pediatrics to the Surgeon General for seven years.
Dr. Pierce is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and a Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is the historian for the Walter Reed Society. He has just completed a book on yellow fever and the role of the U.S. Army in its conquest; it was published in the spring of 2005 by John Wiley & Sons.
His military awards include the Legion of Merit (three awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (three awards), the Army Achievement Medal (four awards), the Surgeon General’s “A” Proficiency Designator and the Order of Military Medical Merit.
August 2005
