OUR STORY, THEIR PERSPECTIVES


After the allied victory in WWII, VA faced the imminent arrival of more than 100,000 new Veteran patients. With 98 mostly rural hospitals offering fewer than 84,000 beds and only 1,000 physicians, VA needed to rapidly expand its medical workforce. In 1946, a groundbreaking idea formed to partner with medical schools leveraging their senior clinicians, academicians and trainees to care for Veterans, which solved VA’s urgent need for expert medical staff and provided an infrastructure for training medical students and residents to become America’s future health care workforce.


“The biggest impact training at VA will have on my future career is that no matter where I go and practice psychiatry, I will be confident in my ability to take care of a Veteran as soon as they walk through the door.”


— Shawn Jin, MD Resident Physician VA Boston Healthcare System


Through these organizational relationships health professions trainees (HPTs), VA staff, educators and Veterans learn together. HPTs are introduced to unique complex medical conditions affecting Veterans and gain valuable experience while serving those who served our country. They learn the latest evidence-based treatments to care for our Veterans, utilizing the latest therapeutics and state-of-the-art technologies. HPTs are prepared to deliver comprehensive Veteran-focused care at VA and in communities across the U.S. As history over the past 75 years indicates, VA training experiences continue to shape America’s health care workforce and improve care for Veterans.


“Veterans are very dedicated to the country. They are very patriotic, and they are very willing to have trainees take care of them. It’s a wonderful partnership to have trainees and Veterans talking together and learning together. When trainees come to VA, they actually learn about what care is necessary for Veterans. It is much more of an evidence- based health care system and the trainees see what a good non-profit health care system can provide.”


“VA trainees have access to a large amount of data that not only adds value to their experience with clinical research, but also allows them to work on high-impact and quality improvement projects.”


— Kiran Motwani, MD Chief Resident, Quality and Safety VA Maryland Health Care System


— Karen Sanders, MD Senior Advisor, Office of Academic Affiliations, Veterans Health Administration


75TH


ANNIVERSARY / 2021


7


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