Category: VA

For social worker Larry Johns, working with Veterans is a personal connection. As a Marine Corps Veteran now working as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at the Orlando VA Domiciliary, Johns found pour painting to be relaxing and calming while attending the University Central Florida. Pour painting is an art form that uses a fluid…

As a flute player in the Army band for nearly 10 years, Amanda Burns loved being able to bring the gift of music to others while deployed to Iraq. “Our concert band was playing in the communities for the Iraqi people,” said Burns. “The most musical and soulful work was being able to connect with…

Older adults play vital, positive roles in our communities. They are our family members, friends, mentors, volunteers, civic leaders, members of the workforce and more. This May, VA recognizes Older Americans Month as we celebrate the meaningful contributions of older adults and raise awareness of services available to support older Veterans’ unique needs, wants and…

As we begin National Nurses Month, VA proudly joins the American Nurses Association in celebrating our nurses far and wide. We commemorate our invaluable teammates and the positive impact they provide by recognizing that “VA Nurses Make a Difference”—the theme we’re using to celebrate Nurses Month this year. By joining the nation’s largest nursing corps, you can…

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for both men and​ women in the United States. VA is deploying artificial intelligence (AI) technology for use during colonoscopy to assist in recognizing pre-cancerous growths (aka “polyps”) and to add to the best-in-class care available to Veterans across the nation. Why Artificial Intelligence? VA…

December 8, 2022: Gregory Feest Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Air Force Veteran Gregory Feest, who served in Panama, the Gulf War, and the War on Terror. Gregory Feest was born in Racine, Wisconsin, in 1956. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he enrolled in the ROTC program and graduated in 1978 with a bachelor’s in…

This year marks the 81st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. On Dec. 7, 1941, America was caught flat-footed by a surprise Japanese attack on a target thought to be untouchable. As home to the Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor was host to over one hundred vessels, thousands of servicemen and hundreds of aircraft belonging…

While the sound of the bugle may stop us momentarily from what we are doing, the tradition and honor that accompanies this music deserves more than a moment of our time. Taps carries extra significance for Martinsburg VA this year, as they are blessed with a special playing from one of their Veteran patients to mark…

Our human resources community is a cornerstone of the VA mission to provide care and service to our nation’s Veterans and their families. VA’s work begins and ends with people, and our human resources management team makes sure we’re positioned to hire, develop and retain a world-class workforce dedicated to serving our Veterans. The support…

Birmingham VA is streamlining the way of the future with virtual reality training for employees. As a part of VA’s commitment to improving patient experience, Birmingham VA was chosen as the first pilot site for virtual reality (VR) training specific to the hospital discharge process. This VR application was created by the Office of Healthcare…

What does gratitude have to do with well-being? Those of us who make being thankful a routine part of our lives tend to be happier, have stronger relationships, and enjoy better overall health. We can learn how to incorporate gratitude into our daily lives. Sometimes when we are feeling down, it may be hard to…

December 5, 2022: Pete Quesada Air Force Veteran Elwood “Pete” Quesada is today’s Veteran of the Day. Elwood “Pete” Quesada was born in Washington, D.C., in 1904 to a Spanish father and an Irish-American mother. He attended the Wyoming Seminary, a college preparatory school in Kingston, Pennsylvania. After graduating, he attended the University of Maryland…