Ch-ch-ch-chia! Today we’re digging into chia. And yes, we’re talking about the same seeds that many of us grew on animal and character themed pots in the 1980s. Our past selves may be surprised by all of its culinary applications today, but we were missing out on chia’s jam packed nutrition. Chia seeds are a…
Navy Veteran loses weight and gains control of his diabetes
Navy Veteran Giovanni “Johnny” Onorato, 62, was scheduled for knee replacement surgery at the Baltimore VA Medical Center when he received a rude awakening. His surgeon, Dr. Sumon Nandi, told him that the procedure was canceled because his weight and blood sugar were too high. “We know that patients with uncontrolled diabetes, those with a…
Elevate your job search with these VA resources
Looking to start a meaningful career at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) but not sure where to begin? You’re in luck—VA offers useful tools and guidance to support job seekers every step of the way, whether you’re exploring physician, nursing, mental health care or other mission-critical roles. Keep reading to learn more about the…
Saving lives by preventing overdoses
When VA nurse Tomeka Allison lost a family member to an overdose, she knew she had to act. Today, she’s leading a pioneering effort at Dallas VA Medical Center that’s already touched the lives of more than 175 Veterans and their families. The stakes couldn’t be higher. Veterans are twice as likely to die from…
Find connection, purpose and remembrance at a “wear blue: run to remember” community run
The sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement of products and services on the part of VA. Veterans should verify the information with the organization offering. For many Veterans, surviving family members and military supporters, finding a space for connection, remembrance and healing can be life-changing. That’s the heart behind “wear blue:…
Veteran sheds light on the importance of mental health research
For Army Veteran Bryan Billups, mental health has always been a priority. From serving as a paratrooper in the first Gulf War to working in the federal government, Billups’ life experiences have brought to light the importance of taking care of both physical and mental health. For Veterans especially, Billups recognizes the value of joining…
Living is hard, but healing is possible
At first glance, John Ortiz’s poem, “Life is So Easy, But Living So Hard,” seems like a thoughtful rhyme about the struggles of daily life, but in reality, it’s much more. For Ortiz—a Navy Veteran living in Murfreesboro, Tennessee—the words are a mirror of his journey through hardship, recovery and self-discovery. Ortiz first entered the…
Veterans get life-saving cardiology care remotely
For rural Veterans, reaching a VA medical center can mean driving six hours or more. And when they’re in need of specialty care such as cardiology, telehealth can make all the difference. Live-saving cardiology consult over the phone When a Veteran in western Nebraska began having severe cardiac symptoms, he wasn’t sure he could get…
Honoring Veterans: Navy Veteran Loretta Walsh
Loretta Perfectus Walsh was born to Irish immigrants in Olyphant, Pennsylvania, in 1896. Walsh graduated from Lackawanna Business College in Scranton, Pennsylvania. While working as a clerk for recruitment in the Philadelphia Naval District, she volunteered with the Women’s Division of the Philadelphia Navy League as a secretary. In 1917, with the Navy desperately needing…
Grieving ahead of time
Caring for a Veteran can be a rewarding but emotional journey. As a caregiver, you may experience grief even before a loved one passes away. This type of grief is called anticipatory grief and can bring on a wide range of emotions. It’s normal to feel sadness, frustration, or even anger. The first step to…
Two procedures, one surgical session
Veteran George Ridlehoover needed two different surgical procedures—prostate removal and hernia repair. Thanks to advanced robotic surgery at VA Charleston, he only needed one session on the operating table. It was the first-ever combined robotic-assisted prostatectomy and hernia repair in the VA health care system and the first in any hospital in the Charleston, South…
Veteran goes from homeless and bedbound to independent again
When Navy Veteran Stephen Gomez was first admitted to the Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center’s Community Living Center (CLC), he weighed less than 90 pounds. He didn’t have a place to live, was bedbound and couldn’t lift his head to look anyone in the eye. Now, just 17 months later, Gomez can walk again, lives independently…