As a Marine Corps administrative noncommissioned officer, Toni Williams was called “mama bear” for the care and support she gave to Marines experiencing sexual assault or on the verge of suicide. Afterwards, Williams continued to serve by providing meals to the homeless through the Salvation Army and resources to Veterans and their families through the…

The PACT Act, passed in August 2022, expands Veterans’ eligibility to benefits based on the addition of new presumptive conditions and toxic exposure locations. Presumptive conditions are ones VA assumes are related to military service, therefore making it easier for Veterans to connect certain conditions to their military service. As a result, more survivors are…

You can check the air quality where you are right now by entering your ZIP code on the AirNow web site. Exposure to air pollutants in wildfire smoke can irritate the lungs, cause inflammation, alter immune function and increase susceptibility to respiratory infections, including COVID-19. Exposure can also impact chronic conditions like asthma, COPD and…

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…

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…

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…

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…