About one-third of U.S. adults—around 30%—report getting less than the recommended seven hours of sleep per night. This can affect mood, energy and health, according to the World Health Organization. What’s the problem? Some people struggle to fall asleep, others wake up during the night, and some wake up earlier than they want. Even people…
Housing and support helped Veteran rebuild his life after addiction
VA social workers connect Veterans to housing, healthcare and community Gregory Searls never could’ve imagined that one of the hardest chapters of his life would come after his service, not during it. That chapter in his life was marked by housing instability and addiction; he never saw it coming. He proudly served in the Navy…
Don’t give up before the miracle: One Veteran’s return to family
A Navy Veteran fought to rebuild his life and his family’s trust There was a time when Robert Bell was living day to day, doing what he could to get by. Today, he’s built a life surrounded by the family he fought to reconnect with. Bell served in the Navy for two and a half…
Never giving up: Rocky Fernandez’s path to engineering
A story of determination, recovery and purpose Seven years ago, Rocky Fernandez’s life changed in an instant. The 40-year-old Army Veteran was in school, working toward his future, when a car accident left him paralyzed and threw his life plans off course. What followed were years of grueling challenges, including multiple long hospital stays, a…
VA’s visionary careers in eye care
Help Veterans see a brighter future Vision plays a vital role in a Veteran’s quality of life, affecting everything from independence and mobility to overall health and well-being. At the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), ophthalmologists, optometrists and other eye care professionals are helping shape the future of vision care through cutting-edge technologies, groundbreaking research and patient-centered treatment approaches. For clinicians seeking…
Southern Arizona VA sees surge as more Veterans enroll in VA health care
More Veterans Signing Up: Southern Arizona VA Reports 6.5% Enrollment Increase in FY2026 The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) Eligibility and Enrollment team has announced a 6.5% increase in Veteran enrollments so far in fiscal year 2026, a significant rise that supports the Choose VA initiative, a national effort to increase Veteran awareness…
Live Whole Health #328: Your body, your home
You only get one body, and yours carries you through every experience, challenge and moment of joy. How are you caring for the body you live in? Are you offering kindness and patience? Or treating your body like an adversary? Your body is not just a physical structure; it’s your home. How you nourish it,…
Never lost hope: A journey through illness, homelessness and healing
A Veteran regains independence through determination and support from VA For Benjamin Parsons, movement has always been an important part of his life. After losing his wife of 19 years, the Navy Veteran walked 5 – 7 miles a day with his beloved Belgian Malinois, finding comfort, routine and healing in every step. Those daily…
Sometimes support starts with one conversation
When Thomas left the military, he wasn’t looking for mental health services. He was looking for help paying his bills. Like many Veterans transitioning to civilian life, his financial stress was overwhelming. He turned to Support the Enlisted Project, or STEP, a Face the Fight-funded organization, hoping to stabilize his finances. What he found was…
Ambient Scribe reimagines the VA clinic experience
VA’s Ambient Scribe puts Veterans at the center of every visit Veteran John Brennan left a recent VA clinic appointment feeling something he had not always expected: truly heard and confident. Credit goes in part to Ambient Scribe, an artificial intelligence (AI) enabled technology that captures natural patient-provider dialogue and generates progress notes in real time. VHA…
Meet a VA pharmacist: Dr. Andreina Ottman
Dr. Andreina Ottman, PharmD, BCGP wears many hats at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in service of our Veterans and she likes it that way. Not only is she a clinical pharmacist practitioner in the women’s health clinic at the Durham VA Medical Center (VAMC) in North Carolina, but she also is the postgraduate…
Women Veterans find community and renewal at retreat
A day of connection, creativity and mindful practices Women Veterans enjoying planting their succulents in teacups. Women Veterans from every branch of service gathered at the Tomah VA Medical Center on May 1, 2026, for the Women Veterans Retreat. As each woman arrived, she was welcomed by warm smiles that quickly sparked a sense of…