The Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) hosted a Feb. 22 congressional briefing titled “Veterans Health Research: A Focus on Women,” featuring presentations from investigators funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical and Prosthetic Research program. VA Under Secretary for Health, David Shulkin, M.D., delivered opening remarks, thanking FOVA and outlining the important strides VA research has made to improve care for women veterans.
Elizabeth Yano, Ph.D., director of VA Health Services Research and Development’s Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy; and professor of Health Policy & Management at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, discussed the acceleration and important progress advancing women veterans’ research over past decade nationally. Dr. Yano highlighted the Collaborative Research to Enhance and Advance Transformation and Excellence (CREATE) initiative to target critical areas of interest for Veterans healthcare, including implementation of comprehensive care for women veterans.
Sally Haskell, M.D., deputy chief consultant, women’s health services, Veterans Health Administration; and associate professor, Yale School of Medicine, presented on the Women Veterans Cohort Study. Dr. Haskell noted that the study has resulted in over 25 published papers since 2009, on topics such as mental health, musculoskeletal conditions, reproductive health, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and substance use.
Heather O'Beirne Kelly, Ph.D., lead, military & veterans policy, American Psychological Association, moderated the briefing and closed with a brief overview of FOVA’s fiscal year 2017 funding recommendations, as well as the proposed cuts and reprioritization of VA research in the president’s budget [see Washington Highlights, Feb. 12].
AAMC is a member of the FOVA executive committee.