Category: VA

A Houston VA clinic designed for Veterans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, has received designation as a Certified Treatment Center of Excellence by the ALS Association. Michael E. DeBakey VA’s multidisciplinary ALS clinic opened in 2022 to offer Veterans a “one-stop-shop” to treat the disease which attacks nerve cells in the brain…

Storyteller and Army Veteran Dustin Elias joked he grew up “po” because his family couldn’t afford the “r.” As a child, he imagined that $200,000 would be kept in a briefcase handcuffed to someone’s wrist, as in the movies he watched. While he was deployed overseas, his wife, Maureen, also an Army Veteran, suggested they…

VA just released episodes five and six of the “Let’s Talk Virtual Care Podcast.” The two episodes form a series discussing older adults and their use of VA Video Connect. VA Video Connect is VA’s secure videoconferencing application designed to help Veterans and their caregivers quickly and easily meet with VA health care providers through…

With San Antonio being one of the fastest growing areas of the country for Veterans, the need for mental health care for Veterans there is expanding. At South Texas VA, the Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) internship program is not only helping to meet that need but strengthening VA from within.   In 2020,…

Like the Veterans we serve, rural communities are as diverse and exciting as you can imagine. You may find an opportunity to be closer to family and friends, or just enjoy a greater sense of privacy. Perhaps the lower cost of living or even the allure of open space appeals to you. Today, we explore…

“Beans, beans the magical fruit. The more you eat …” DYK: The gassy effect we associate with beans is simply a product of our gut bacteria breaking down some of the fiber and nutrients in the beans. Beans: A humble nutrient powerhouse Beans are more than just a cost-effective pantry staple, they’re a nutritional powerhouse…

Robert, a Veteran from a rural town in Iowa, recently visited the Mason City VA Clinic to establish his VA care. As part of the process, he was sent to the Technology-based Eye Care Services (TECS) room for an eye screening. Dr. April Maa Around the same time and several states away, another Veteran named…

Meet Archie Jugarap, Navy Veteran turned health systems specialist for VA’s Office of Advanced Manufacturing (OAM), whose work in dental technology is revolutionizing dental care for Veterans. Archie Jugarap Jugarap is using his extensive experience in the dental field to aid dental clinics in crafting 3D-printed dental prosthetics for Veterans. “In blending artistry with technology,…

Bay Pines VA remains committed to improving the Veteran experience. One way it does this is by ensuring future nurses are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to serve those who served us. Recently, Bay Pines VA nurse residents Nee Nguyen, Emily Warner and Nneka Sinclair were highlighted by VA’s Office of Academic…

Growing up in Overland Park, Kansas, Nick Jones became fascinated with the military after the Twin Towers fell when he was in 5th grade. He graduated early to join the Marine Corps. Jones graduated boot camp as a mortarman in January 2010, joined the the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, and deployed to Afghanistan as a…

When the time comes for a military family to move as a result of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) order, military spouses are often confronted with the burden of finding the time necessary to get everything done and keep up with their jobs. “As I faced another PCS move, the second in two years,…

Rose Lopez’s service in the United States Army ended too soon. The Boston native intended to have a long, impactful career in defense, but injuries and health challenges prevented her from completing boot camp. “I broke 11 bones and then was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes,” she explained. That’s when Lopez found herself seeking new…