RH

Robert B. Halder

Director at Veterans Medical Research Foundation

Dr. Halder graduated from State University of New York Medical School in 1968, having served several clinical rotations at the VA Hospital in Syracuse, N.Y. In 1968 he entered the Surgical Internship program at UCSD where he was named ‘Intern of the Year’. He entered the Navy as a Flight Surgeon in 1969 and served a tour at Ellyson Field in Florida with Helicopter Training Squadron Eight. In 1971 he entered the Ophthalmology Residency Program at Naval Hospital, San Diego. From 1971 to 1974 he enjoyed clinical rotations at the VA Hospital, LaJolla.

Dr. Halder was then stationed at Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton where he served as Staff Ophthalmologist. In 1983 he became Director of Clinical Services at that hospital. In 1984 he was assigned as Executive Officer (COO) of Long Beach Naval Hospital. In 1985 he was named as Commanding Officer (CEO) of Naval Hospital, Naples, Italy. He was promoted to Rear Admiral (One-star) in 1988. After a brief tour in Washington D.C., he was assigned as Regional Commander Navy Medicine and Commanding Officer Naval Medical Center, San Diego. He was promoted to Rear Admiral (Two-star) in 1989. During this tour RADM Halder led Navy Medicine in the deployment of Total Quality Leadership. In 1989 he founded the Southern California Coalition for Improving Healthcare Quality. This coalition of twenty-four hospitals, government and civilian, included the VA hospitals in San Diego and Los Angeles. Upon his retirement from the Navy in 1992, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy’s highest peacetime personal recognition.

For the next several years, Dr. Halder served as Senior VP of the Juran Institute. During this time he traveled worldwide consulting in healthcare quality. In 1993 he was engaged as Senior Clinical Quality Consultant to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. In 1994 he co-authored the Joint Commission accreditation standards for Quality Improvement. In the late 1990’s he served as VP Medical Affairs at a mid-West healthcare system.

Dr. Halder is currently Executive Medical Consultant of NOVACES, a performance excellence company headquartered in New Orleans. He and his wife, Marilyn, reside in Bonsall, CA.

In 2003 he co-founded the North County Warrior Support, a not-for-profit which has to date provided over $400,000 worth of free auto repair to junior enlisted service members and their families in San Diego County. In addition, he and his wife serve on the Board of Soldiers Who Salsa, a not-for-profit which provides dance instruction as part of physical rehabilitation for Wounded Warriors at Naval Hospitals San Diego, Camp Pendleton and at the new Walter Reed/Bethesda facility.

Timeline

  • Director

    Current role