Category: VA

In this bilingual episode of the PTSD Bytes podcast, host Dr. Colleen Becket-Davenport discusses Spanish-language resources for people with PTSD and their loved ones. The first half of the episode is in English, with guest Cybele Merrick, associate director of Education at National Center for PTSD. The second half of the episode is in Spanish,…

This month, VA commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) program, which provides grants to Veterans and service members with certain, serious service-connected disabilities to adapt their homes to suit their unique needs while enhancing their ability to live more independently. As VA reflects on 75 years of service through the SAH…

Naval Academy graduate Cassandra Williamson served for more than nine years in the military, first as an enlisted Navy cryptologic tech collecting intelligence for a submarine group, and later as a Marine Corps officer. Today, she is the executive director of the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA) and continues her service by helping Veterans access…

Evelyn Brady, Navy Veteran and mother of three, had her world turned upside down in 2019. She’s now championing efforts to bring awareness to those who, like her, carry the title of Gold Star Family. “No one wants to be a Gold Star Family. The title is bittersweet, but we have an obligation to be…

There’s no better way to learn about a job at VA than from the people who do the work, day in and day out. Recently, VA physicians Dr. Neil Patel and Dr. Chad Kessler shared their thoughts on practicing emergency medicine at VA in an article titled “The hidden jewel of emergency medicine careers: Why…

Do you ever feel joint stiffness or tightness that gets in the way of moving like you want to? Or keep you from doing certain activities? Maybe you’ve heard the phrase “motion is lotion?” Yes, movement can help manage or decrease stiffness. “Motion is lotion” means that movement can help with joint health. It increases…

Air Force Veteran and Chief of Police Jesse Gabbert doesn’t pull any punches when you ask him about Bay Pines VA’s police service. “Of course, I’m biased but I’ll gladly tell anyone I believe we have the best police department in VISN 8.” Gabbert spent 21 years on active duty with security forces and, after…

VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal visited the Jackson Health Care System’s G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA, gained firsthand insight into the medical center’s operations and commended the dedicated staff for their achievements.  Accompanied by VISN 16 network director Dr. Skye McDougall and Medical Center Director Kai Mentzer, Elnahal was given a tour…

Michael Roland joined the Navy in 1969 when he was 17 years old. Six months later, he was raped outside his base’s enlisted club. He opted for silence, not telling anyone for 51 years.  “I went into a cocoon. It became so overwhelming that I ran, and I did that my whole adult life,” Roland…

Amarillo VA Health Care System held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the new location of the Childress VA Clinic on May 9, 2023. The new Childress VA Clinic is located at 2305 Avenue F, NW, Ste. 900, Childress, Texas, 79201. It provides 3,000 square feet of administrative and clinical space for eligible…

Eastern Oklahoma VA invited employees, Veterans, caregivers and the community to take a walk on the wild side during the 2023 VA2K Walk & Roll event in May. Participants were encouraged to show up in animal prints, safari wear, and their wildest attire to complete the 2km (1.24 miles) walk during the safari-themed events, which…

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart unexpectedly stops beating. According to the American Heart Association, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests (which differ from heart attacks) occur outside of a hospital every year. But there’s hope for surviving one. Immediate Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) can double or triple the chances of survival. VA Caregiver Support Program (CSP)…