[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 25]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 34396-34397]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE RETIREMENT OF MICHAEL K. WHEELER FROM THE JOHN DINGELL 
                  VA MEDICAL CENTER, DETROIT, MICHIGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 13, 2007

  Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Michael K. 
Wheeler, who is retiring on January 3, 2008, as Director of the John 
Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit. Mr. Wheeler's career is marked by 
numerous hospital administration roles and a dedication to our men and 
women who have served in the Armed Forces.
  Mr. Wheeler was born in Detroit and moved to Canton, Ohio, when he 
was a teenager. He received a BS in business administration from the 
University of Dayton and an MA in hospital administration from Xavier 
University in Cincinnati. Mr. Wheeler began his career as a Hospital 
Administration Specialist in the U.S. Air Force and has served in an 
impressive number of VA Medical Centers, including Durham, North 
Carolina; Portland, Oregon; Prescott, Arizona; Coatesville, 
Pennsylvania; Cleveland, Ohio; and Dayton, Ohio. Prior to assuming the 
position of Director of the John Dingell VAMC, Mr. Wheeler was the 
Medical Center Director of the VAMC Battle Creek, Michigan. 
Additionally, Mr. Wheeler has conducted seminars in postgraduate 
education in

[[Page 34397]]

management principles, strategic planning, and quality assurance for 
the VA, Duke University, and the American College of Health Care 
Executives.
  Undoubtedly, Mr. Wheeler was more than prepared when he began his 
tenure at the John Dingell VAMC in 2001. There, he oversees all 
operations of the 108 bed primary, secondary, and tertiary care medical 
center which provides acute medical, surgical, psychiatric, and other 
inpatient care as well as both primary and specialized outpatient 
services, including substance abuse, among others. His job necessitates 
flexibility and strong decisionmaking abilities.
  Mr. Wheeler is a patriot and a role model for us all. His colleagues 
and associates know him as an approachable, humorous, and very hard-
working Director. I am proud to call him a friend. The John Dingell 
VAMC has been lucky to have him for these past 6 years. Madam Speaker, 
I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Wheeler for his 
dedication to the VA and to the men and women who have served our 
country. I wish him well as he moves on to new adventures.

                          ____________________