Category: VA

The sounds of renovation carry a hopeful tune at Bedford VA, where work will soon begin on a $15 million renovation, ushering in a new era of care for women Veterans. Women are the fastest growing demographic at Bedford VA, and now comprise nearly 1500 patients served. With increasing demand, hospital leaders recognized infrastructure needed…

December is a perfect time to learn about a versatile vegetable group and how to enjoy them during the holidays and beyond. The benefits of root vegetables are often undervalued or misunderstood. Traditional root vegetables grow underground and include carrots, radishes, rutabaga, beets, parsnips and turnips. Tubers are another common root vegetable and include potatoes,…

At the 2023 VA Innovation Experience, 15 VHA Shark Tank competition finalists pitched their innovations to a panel of VA leaders for the chance to spread their innovation to another VA facility. The competition hosted over 350 in-person attendees and was livestreamed at VA facilities nationwide. The 10 winning practices provide innovative solutions that aim to…

Medina Ayala-Lo never imagined the 10-minute walk from her Brooklyn high school to the Marine Corps recruiting office would forever change her life. “I think my motivation for joining the military came down to practicality. I knew my mom couldn’t afford college and there wouldn’t be any scholarships, so I had to make a plan…

Working in primary care at VA means being on the front lines of our mission to serve Veterans. “You’ll be caring for those who have served our nation in wartime and peacetime. What greater satisfaction can you get from practicing medicine?” asked Samuel Wright, a national health care recruitment consultant. But our mission isn’t the…

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the results of the 2023 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, the annual effort to estimate the number of Americans, including Veterans, without permanent housing. The data showed that on a single night in January 2023, there were 35,574 Veterans who experienced homelessness in the U.S. This reflects a…

Phillip Morales has one of the most infectious and heartiest laughs. A joyful sound of gratitude resonates from deep within as he shares his story of recovery, renewal and healing… a journey that would reconnect him with his roots and usher him along his path to a new beginning. “I’m from the Gila River Indian…

“When we talk to Veterans about joining the Million Veteran Program (MVP), we’re very quickly asked about the bottom line: Will it help other Veterans? Will it help other Americans?” said Dr. Mike Gaziano, MVP’s principal investigator. This sense of commitment to serving others has been evident since the first Veteran joined the program when…

The effort that Veterans put in at the therapeutic rock climbing session sponsored by VA Central Iowa hospital is reflective of the journey many of them have taken over their military careers. Every month, Klay Queck, recreational therapist at Central Iowa VA, leads a group of Veterans of varying abilities to an indoor climbing venue…

There are more than 4 million Veterans in the United States who live in rural areas. Rural communities face unique health care challenges, such as fewer local health care options and longer travel times to visit medical centers. VA is working to expand access to care in rural communities through telehealth and other virtual means.…

Many Veterans are familiar with the patriotic songs that play around memorial holidays, but few songs represent the perspective of those who have served. Until now.  Veteran-led nonprofit, CreatiVets, offers programs that allow Veterans to address their service-related traumas through art and music. With the release of over 40 songs, CreatiVets now provides the public…

VA is considered the founder of the recreation therapy occupation in the federal system, as well as its foremost user and supporter. In fact, VA boasts the largest rehabilitation program under one administration in the western hemisphere, so there’s no question we’re the best place to practice the trade. “As a recreational therapist, my goal…