How does VA assess hurricane assets capabilities? VA’s VISN 16, hosted by Overton Brooks VA, held its annual hurricane and deployable assets capabilities at the Bossier City Public Safety Training Complex in Bossier City, Louisiana. The weeklong exercise, April 30 through May 5, brought VA assets from across the south central United States into one…
#VeteranOfTheDay Navy Veteran Ryan Job
Ryan Job was born in Washington state in March 1981. He was raised in Issaquah, Washington, and attended Issaquah High School. After graduation, he enrolled in the University of Washington, where he studied for three years before joining the Navy in 2002. He began boot camp in December of that year in Great Lakes, Illinois,…
Prepare for the new application timeline with these four helpful strategies
Get ready for a speedier application process at VA! We recently coordinated an agreement with the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) that will allow us to proceed with the next steps of the hiring process within three days of posting a job announcement, rather than the previous 15 days. That means swifter processing times…
How could genes affect your mental health?
One key aspect of mental health care is mental health research. At VA’s Million Veteran Program (MVP), we’re studying how genes, lifestyle, military experiences and exposures interact to affect health, including mental health. This Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re sharing some of our important research findings that were made possible by the 950,000+ Veterans in…
Take advantage of VA Life Insurance programs during National Military Appreciation Month
National Military Appreciation Month is a time to honor the service and sacrifice of active-duty service members and Veterans. The United States is home to 1.3 million active-duty service members and nearly 18.6 million Veterans. In addition to providing health care and other benefits to Veterans, VA also offers life insurance to Veterans, service members…
Welcome Home! Vietnam War Commemoration honors Veterans on the National Mall
The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration will host “Welcome Home! A Nation Honors our Vietnam Veterans and their Families,” on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., May 11-13. This national event will honor Vietnam Veterans and their enduring legacy of service, and inspire Americans to thank them and their families for their service…
Live Whole Health #170: Chair yoga for the heart
A healthy lifestyle, including moving the body and taking time for self-care, can support heart health. About 80% of heart disease and stroke events are preventable. Awareness of your risk factors, knowing your heart health numbers like cholesterol and blood pressure and making healthy lifestyle choices can reduce your risks. Your efforts can also lower…
VA’s mission to better serve all
VA has renewed its focus to foster a safe and inclusive environment for all Veterans and employees. VA’s new mission statement reflects a new VA that is intent on creating an environment where all have equitable opportunities to thrive, including women, LGBTQ+ individuals and underserved populations. “To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those…
Kidney dialysis pioneer Dr. Michael Brescia dies at 90
Dr. Michael Brescia, a kidney dialysis pioneer and co-founder of modern palliative care and hospice care, died April 19 in his home in Westchester County, NY, at the age of 90. His death was announced by New York’s Calvary Hospital where he was medical director emeritus. Brescia, with Dr. James Cimino, developed the Brescia-Cimino fistula…
Army Veteran flutist now an occupational therapist
As a flute player in the Army band for nearly 10 years, Amanda Burns loved being able to bring the gift of music to others while deployed to Iraq. “Our concert band was playing in the communities for the Iraqi people,” said Burns. “The most musical and soulful work was being able to connect with…
Pour painting helpful therapy for domiciliary Veterans
For social worker Larry Johns, working with Veterans is a personal connection. As a Marine Corps Veteran now working as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at the Orlando VA Domiciliary, Johns found pour painting to be relaxing and calming while attending the University Central Florida. Pour painting is an art form that uses a fluid…
Celebrate National Nurses Month—and the nurses who change lives
As we begin National Nurses Month, VA proudly joins the American Nurses Association in celebrating our nurses far and wide. We commemorate our invaluable teammates and the positive impact they provide by recognizing that “VA Nurses Make a Difference”—the theme we’re using to celebrate Nurses Month this year. By joining the nation’s largest nursing corps, you can…