New way to attach a prosthetic limb after amputation

In the latest episode of the New Horizons in Health podcast, Under Secretary for Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal talks with Marine and Army National Guard Veteran Ed Salau and Navy Veteran Joe Shutte, both of whom have benefited from a groundbreaking new way to attach a prosthetic limb after amputation. After a body part such…

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How we spent our summer… volunteering

Southern Nevada VA concluded an awesome VA Summer Youth Volunteer program with a graduation ceremony Aug. 9. The 22 students from community high schools contributed 2,849 volunteer hours in 10 different VA Services. Summer youth, ages 14 through 18, worked from June 4 to Aug. 8. Students were provided with a list of VA services and…

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Working at VA means getting more from your primary care career

Within VA’s nationwide health care system, primary care providers like you can find more of what you’re looking for from a career even as you play a vital role in providing whole health care to Veterans. “Have you wished that you could focus on the reason you became a doctor in the first place?” asked…

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Live Whole Health #235: Bring your mind back with mindful breathing

How often do you glance at your phone, check your email, watch a funny video, or engage in social media each day? We all need breaks in our busy days, and those things can be fun to distract us for a few moments. In fact, finding ways to create mindful breaks can support our overall…

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PTSD Bytes 42: PTSD Later in Life

In this episode of the PTSD Bytes podcast, host Dr. Colleen Becket-Davenport discusses PTSD and aging, as well as potential treatment options, with Dr. Jennifer Moye, a geropsychologist at VA Boston, a professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and a contributor to the Talking Later podcast, which focuses on…

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Online certification programs provide training in environmental exposures

VA has announced a significant advancement in caring for Veterans with concerns about military environmental exposures. More than 40% of Veterans seeking health care at VA have reported exposure to hazardous materials during their military service, prompting the development of two free specialized certification programs designed to address the needs of such patients directly. VA,…

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HEARTH project supports Veterans through military transition

Stopping a problem before it starts sounds like it requires time travel or movie magic, but sometimes it’s as simple as knowing the conditions that make the problem more likely. That’s the foundation of VA’s Help with Employment, Agency, Risk, Transitions and Housing (HEARTH) project. It’s a national pilot program which reaches out to Veterans…

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Veteran shares immersive technology with other Veterans

After three years of working from home post-pandemic, the effects of isolation were taking a toll on service-connected disabled Veteran Bernard Murphy. Seeking relief, he bought a virtual reality (VR) headset from a friend and explored the potential for immersive technology to help tackle his loneliness. Veteran Bernard Murphy Murphy’s transformative experience inspired him to…

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Teens trade screens for service at North Texas VA

In an era dominated by screens, the Summer Junior Volunteer Program at North Texas VA offers a refreshing contrast to giving ideas on what one can do with free time. Run by the Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE), this highly sought after program draws high schoolers away from their phones and into meaningful…

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Employee experience officer shares story, discusses retention

Finding great employees is important, but at VA, we also know that retention is just as important as recruitment. After serving as a combat medic for almost a decade, Edmund R. “Bobby” Patterson initially intended to become a physician assistant, with an eye toward specializing in psychology or psychiatry. That interest was originally fostered during…

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Honoring Veterans: Navy Veteran William Wright Abbot III

William Wright Abbot III was born in May 1922, and was an American archivist and historian known for his work in compiling and editing The Washington Papers. However, before his illustrious academic career, he served in the Navy during World War II. Abbot joined the Navy in 1943 after graduating from the University of Georgia.…

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VA and Armed Forces Wellness Centers partnering

VA’s National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (NCP) has partnered with DOD’s Defense Health Agency’s Armed Forces Wellness Centers (AFWC). Together, NCP and AFWC will help ensure the best standard of care for service members and Veterans. NCP helps Veterans achieve their best health by sharing information on how to prevent disease. It…

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