Air Force Veteran Bobby Grier, the Sugar Bowl’s first Black player

Bobby Grier’s team, the University of Pittsburgh Panthers, were closing out a very successful 1955 season ranked 11th in the country. They were invited to the 1956 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans against seventh-ranked Georgia Tech, a national juggernaut.   Back in the era of the two-way player, Grier logged time at both fullback and…

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The lifesaving impact of lung cancer screening

Lung Cancer affects almost 8,000 Veterans and nearly 240,000 Americans every year. Air Force Veteran Douglas Cross knows this better than most. A low-dose CT scan found his cancer at an early stage when lung cancer is most treatable. Cross, a machinist who joined the Air Force on the buddy system with his best friend,…

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Optometrist encourages Veterans to get glaucoma test

Arguably, no one knows the importance of the adage “the eyes are the windows to the soul” better than optometrists. Bay Pines VA optometrist Dr. Daniel Shea also believes that providing eye care is one of the most important ways to support the whole health of Veterans. Shea joined the Bay Pines VA team nine…

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Birmingham VA unveils exciting culinary transformations

At Birmingham VA, Veterans are at the heart of everything we do. And in Nutrition and Food Service, customer service is not just a culinary ingredient: It’s the secret sauce. Studies show that good food is the foundation of health, and this approach doesn’t just cut medical costs, it improves and saves lives. In September…

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Army Veteran has volunteered at VA for 15 years

Bay Pines VA needs volunteers to fill many rolls across our health care system. No one understands the importance of this role better than Center for Development and Civic Engagement specialist Edgardo Solivan. Solivan started his VA journey in the Technical Career Field Trainee Program. The program is a two-year internship that places individuals in…

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On National Toothache Day, see how you can save smiles as a VA dentist

It’s National Toothache Day, and where would we be without the VA dentists, hygienists, dental assistants and lab techs who help put smiles back on the faces of Veterans every day? A dentist at VA does all the same work you might expect from a dentist anywhere: cavity fillings, crowns, dentures, implants, teeth extractions, root…

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Free Valentine’s Day concert for Veterans

VA’s Center for Development & Civic Engagement (CDCE) is kicking off a “Direct to Vets” series on Feb. 14 at the Villa Milano in Columbus, Ohio.  Central Ohio VA’s CDCE partnered with Veteran Service Organizations and other community sponsors to provide an entertaining evening of music and fellowship. The event is free to Veterans from all…

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Innovations and partnerships transform Veterans’ access to care

Every day, there are new inventions, new mobile apps to download and new solutions for simple everyday tasks. VA has led the charge on many world-renowned innovations, such as developing a standard for better-fitting lighter artificial limbs to creating the first nicotine patch to help smokers quit.     Advancements in delivering and accessing health care…

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Montford Point Marines and the Congressional Gold Medal

In honor of its 30th anniversary, VA’s Center for Minority Veterans is recognizing Congressional Gold Medal recipients/groups for each month of 2024. During Black History Month, we honor and remember the Montford Point Marines’ courage, determination, and sacrifice. These brave men were the first African Americans to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps, paving the…

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Misconceptions about PTSD: Part One

In this first episode of a two-part series on the PTSD Bytes podcast, host Dr. Colleen Becket-Davenport discusses some common myths surrounding PTSD with Dr. Kelly Maieritsch, clinical psychologist and director of the PTSD Mentoring program that supports PTSD specialty clinics throughout VA. Myth: Only military Veterans and people in combat zones get PTSD. Fact:…

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Virtual Internship 2024: Unleash your potential at VA’s Digital Media Engagement team

VA, in collaboration with the Department of State, is once again opening applications for the Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) Internship Program for the 2024-2025 academic year. This virtual internship opportunity is designed for U.S. citizens who are passionate about serving our nation’s Veterans while gaining professional experience in digital communications and beyond. Who can…

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Learn how to align your answers with the VA interview process

As you prepare for your coveted VA interview, you may be wondering what to expect. After all, you want to make the best impression and get to work serving Veterans right away. We can help. At VA, we use a performance-based interview (PBI) process. With these kinds of questions, we’re going to ask you to describe what…

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