AAMC President and CEO David J. Skorton, MD, issued the following statement marking the 80th anniversary of the partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and academic medicine:
“For 80 years, the VA and our nation’s medical schools, academic health systems, and teaching hospitals—collectively known as academic medicine—have partnered to provide educational, clinical, and research opportunities that have improved health care for millions of veterans. Together, this collaboration has expanded access to high-quality health care for veterans and for all patients nationwide.
Approximately 70% of physicians practicing today complete at least part of their training in VA facilities, dedicating their time, experience, and talent to serving this unique population. As the largest provider of residency training opportunities in the United States, VA facilities play a critical role in developing our nation's future physician workforce. Additionally, the shared medical advancements that are developed through the partnership between the VA and academic medicine benefit patients and VA facilities nationwide.
I have experienced first-hand the exceptional instruction, training, research, and patient care conducted within VA facilities when I completed part of my undergraduate and graduate medical education in VA centers in Chicago and Los Angeles – and then served as attending physician at a general internal medicine continuity-of-care clinic and led the echocardiography laboratory at the Iowa City VA Medical Center. Serving veterans is a privilege I hold deeply, and I am grateful for how the VA helped shape me as both a physician and a member of my community.
Academic medicine works for America, and the 80-year partnership between the VA and AAMC-member institutions reflects our deep commitment to strengthening health care for the nation’s veterans. We look forward to continuing to serve those who have bravely served our country.”