Cozy and nutritious recipes to warm you from the inside out When the nights are long and the days are cold, what we eat and drink helps us stay toasty and nourished. Some people may turn to soups and stews, while others reach for warming spices to bring the heat. Either way, this season is…
A male Veteran’s journey through breast cancer
A testimony of strength and awareness In a routine trip to the dermatologist, what was initially thought to be a minor cyst under the left nipple turned out to be something much more severe for Gene, an Air Force and Air National Guard Veteran. The dermatologist took a core sample upon noticing the skin color…
Homeless Veteran gains stability and starts non-profit to help Veterans
Esther Frias received help from VA homeless programs Veteran Esther Frias grew up in Los Angeles after her parents immigrated from Mexico. She remembers watching news coverage of the 1992 Los Angeles riots with her father. “He would always say, ‘I can’t wait for my kids to be in the military and serve this great…
Army Veteran opens his heart
Three times In late 2010, only a year after getting out of the Army, Iraq War Veteran Keith McCarter knew something was wrong. “I started to feel super weak and not eating,” he recalled. “Come to find out, I was in end-stage heart failure.” He was just 25-years old. Since he was too weak for…
Advancing cancer care: Innovations in oncology at VA
Cancer affects tens of thousands of Veterans each year, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is committed to ensuring that they receive care that’s not only compassionate but cutting edge. Through its National Oncology Program (NOP), VA is driving forward innovations in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, ensuring Veterans benefit from the latest advances in medicine, backed by rigorous data and a…
Overcoming Veteran homelessness, one day at a time
How VA programs helped a Veteran find stability, permanent housing, and hope Taiyaa Roundtree never thought he would experience homelessness. In 2022, he enlisted in the Navy because he wanted to give back to his country and “do something for myself.” But after severe health issues prevented him from completing boot camp and making a…
Live Whole Health #300: Cloud Hands practice tai chi
“The sky is the limit” is a common phrase used to say that we can achieve anything and that our options are limitless. It may not always feel that way, especially on those hard days where everything seems to be going wrong. It can be easy to think that things are impossible rather than possible…
Houston VA adopts advanced robotic surgery technology for Veterans
Revolutionizing care Veterans at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) in Houston will now experience enhanced surgical outcomes and quicker recovery times, thanks to the addition of two state-of-the-art surgical robots. The facility recently became the first VA to implement the new da Vinci 5 robotic systems, designed to improve precision and control…
Honoring heroes at Wreaths Across America
A day of remembrance, unity and lasting traditions In the crisp morning air of Fayetteville, Ark., on Dec. 13, VA staff, Veteran-centric community partners and community members united for a profound and heartfelt annual event: Wreaths Across America. The day began with a solemn promise shared by 500 dedicated volunteers who gathered with a shared mission:…
Receiving VA care from home via telehealth
How VA virtual care helps a Long Island Veteran stay active, healthy, and independent A Long Island Veteran who served in the Army during the late 1960’s has spent the past several decades navigating serious health challenges. VA’s telehealth care options have transformed the way he manages his care. “I had two strokes when I…
Bringing the Federal Electronic Health Record to VA
Deployments are underway VA Deputy Secretary Paul R. Lawrence, Ph.D., recently visited the VA Northern Indiana Health Care System as part of his tour of VA facilities in the process of bringing the new Federal Electronic Health Record Management (FEHRM) system online. View the On The Road With Dr. Paul Lawrence video to hear firsthand…
VA partnership brings mobile mammography bus to rural Veterans
On the road to prevention The mobile mammography bus is back at VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS), continuing its mission to make breast cancer screenings easier and more accessible for Veterans. The mobile service, offered in partnership with CHI Memorial MaryEllen Locher Breast Center, provides on-site mammograms to eligible Veterans, eliminating the need to…