Category: VA

Exercise is crucial to your health. It can boost your mood, help you sleep better at night and improve your heart health. However, it’s important to be safe when you’re active. Depending on where you live, you may experience high temperatures and humidity in the summer, which can increase your risk of heat-related illnesses. With…

The VA Maryland Health Care System announced the completion of renovations of the inpatient mental health unit at Baltimore VA. The new state-of-the-art unit features expanded clinic space, safe and welcoming design features and an emphasis on recovery-focused treatment. “This is a big win because it enhances and expands our inpatient mental health services and…

Benjamin Franklin Wilson was born on Vashon Island, Washington, in June 1921. His longing for adventure is what led him to the military after dropping out of school during his senior year. Wilson enlisted in the Army in January 1940. He was stationed in Hawaii during Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, and…

When a member of the military deploys, it leaves a lot for their spouses to manage at home: family, household finances, employment and more. It can be stressful to try to balance all the conflicting priorities. To address military spouse employment challenges, VA is implementing key tenets across internal hiring and retention efforts as part…

The passing of a Veteran is a solemn time that deserves to be recognized and reported with the utmost respect. Veterans have served their country and worked hard for their well-deserved benefits. However, after a Veteran passes away, family members should report the death of the Veteran to VA as soon as possible to stop…

A study published today in “Science”—one of the world’s preeminent scientific journals—underscored the significance and impact of VA’s Million Veteran Program (MVP). Led by VA Drs. Scott Damrauer and Katherine Liao and a team of VA researchers, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) researchers and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National…

VA hosted its second virtual, regional Veterans Experience Action Center (VEAC) June 11-13 as part of a series targeting recently separated Veterans and military members nearing transition out of the armed services. While the first event focused on the Northeast United States, the most recent event served the Southeast. Both events served a combined 980…

When a patient suffers a cardiac arrest or a life-threatening arrythmia, advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) is used to respond to these emergencies. One component of ACLS is delivering electricity to restart the heart or convert to a normal heart rhythm. The device that delivers the electricity is called a defibrillator, a complex medical device…

Knowing resources are available and where to find them can be critical for the suicide prevention of you or someone you love. My little brother Austen and I (pictured above) were 16 months apart, peas and carrots as they say. I went to the University of North Carolina. He went to Duke, nine miles down the road from me.…

The Rural Scholars Fellowship (RSF) offers primary care providers—physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants—an amazing opportunity to become leaders in rural health care at VA and to develop the solutions for the challenges facing rural Veterans. The RSF offers participants a full-time salary and part-time patient load, providing protected time for immersive experiences, mentorship, coursework,…

Moving the body does not have to be rigorous to be helpful. Tai chi is a gentle, mind-body practice that uses breath and movement to stimulate the body and promote well-being. Muscles are engaged during the movement, lengthening them, while moving the body in a slow, deliberate way. Breathing is timed with the movements to…

More than 150 Veterans and service members from Central Texas attended the recent Red, White & Blue Employment Spectacular job fair organized by the Waco VA Regional Benefits Office. As part of a nationwide effort, the staff of Waco VA held the in-person job fair to highlight VA’s Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program. The…