ASSOCIATED HEALTH EDUCATION


OVERVIEW


Associated Health Education (AHE) aims to provide a wide range of opportunities to trainees in clinical services, such as psychology, pharmacy, podiatry and optometry. The focus is on creating interprofessional teams to provide accessible, high-quality care.


Who Participated in VA Training Prior to VA Employment? (By health profession)


>70% >70%Psychologists >80%Optometrists Podiatrists Source: VA All Employee Survey, 2020


Due to the evolving nature of Veterans’ health needs, associated health professionals are often at the nexus of change. OAA programs accelerate change within emerging professions by preparing trainees to treat patients in VA and other clinical settings.


OAA, in partnership with the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, has engaged in an expansion of mental health training positions, creating over 750 positions since 2012. Professions include psychology (354), social work (112), pharmacy (82), licensed professional mental health counselors (41) and marriage and family therapists (14).


Since 2013, OAA has expanded chiropractic residency positions by 50%. VA chiropractic residency programs are accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education. Chiropractic residents, who work with interprofessional clinical teams, train in alignment with national initiatives in evidence-based, non-pharmacological treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.


Future expansion of the physical therapy and occupational therapy residency programs will allow 58 additional PT and 43 additional OT residency positions by 2024. OAA is also dedicated to developing and ensuring best practice models for trainee supervision to meet the demands of patient care and support trainee growth and development.


16 OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFILIATIONS ACHIEVEMENTS


VA offers 20% of the nation’s psychology internships and 50% of the nation’s accredited psychology postdoctoral residency programs.


21,215


AHE trainees in most recent academic year


Areas of associated health fields


40+ 658


New positions filled, including 354 in psychology


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24