March 26, 2022

GEHA (Government Employees Health Association, Inc., pronounced G.E.H.A.) announced the appointment of Dr. Michael Shusko, MD, MPH, FAAFP, FACOEM, FACPM, as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Dr. Shusko has been serving as GEHA’s interim CMO since September 2021.

In this role, Dr. Shusko will oversee all clinical operations at GEHA, focusing on quality of member care and efforts to improve their overall health and well-being.

With nearly two decades of experience in the medical field, Dr. Shusko brings a wealth of expertise as a clinical physician, medical director and Navy medical officer to his role at GEHA. He has held senior level roles and has expertise spanning all aspects of public health, global health, occupational and environmental medicine, general preventive and family medicine.

“Dr. Shusko assumes the role of CMO at a pivotal time for GEHA,” said Art Nizza, GEHA President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our clinical strategy seeks to help tailor our health plans to meet the unique needs of our members, in addition to providing one of the largest provider networks for federal employees. Dr. Shusko’s visionary leadership in public health, clinical and preventive medicine will help us advance our long-term strategy.”

As interim CMO, Dr. Shusko set improvement targets for key member health metrics as part of GEHA’s 2022 goals, led efforts to develop enterprise-wide lifestyle and wellness solutions and reorganized GEHA’s clinical team, setting the organization up for long-term success. Dr. Shusko’s efforts as interim CMO have helped position GEHA to continue to deliver on its commitment to over 2 million federal employees, retirees, military retirees and their families.

“GEHA is a unique company that is focused on empowering its members,” said Dr. Michael Shusko, CMO. “Having served 35 years in the U.S. Military, being able to help shape the future of the company and identify ways to better support federal employees and military veterans is very rewarding.”

Dr. Shusko started at GEHA as Medical Director, Clinical Policy and Efficacy, in July 2020. He is residency trained in occupational and environmental medicine and family medicine, and he is Board Certified in General Preventive Medicine and Public Health. He has worked as a chief medical officer and director in various capacities since 2006 when he began as the Senior Medical Director of the Marine Special Operations Regiment. Following that position, he held roles as Director at the Office of Global Health Engagement, Director of Public Health at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Okinawa, and an Occupational and Environmental Medicine position at the Walter Reed Medical System.

Dr. Shusko earned his Bachelor of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies (Arabic) from Rutgers and his Masters of Public Health from Harvard University before earning his medical degree from Wake Forest University.

He retired from the United States Navy in 2020 after 35 years of military service, including 13 years with the United States Marine Corps.

Dr. Shusko is certified by the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners in radiation health, trauma life support, advanced cardiac life support, and essential life support, in addition to his three medical specialties. Dr. Shusko also has medical licensure in North Carolina, Texas and Missouri.