Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical CenterMoving Veterans along the tracks of excellent health care

PARALYZEDVET WALKS AND RUNS

AGAINPages 4-5

Issue 8 | December 2019

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IN THISISSUE03 Message from the Director

04 Paralyzed Veteran Walks & Runs Again

05 VA Goes Smoke-Free

06 Crisscross Organ Swap

07 Palliative Care Support Group

08 Robotic Knee Surgery

09 Lose Fat through MOVE!

10 Prevent Veteran Suicide

12 Breast Imaging

13 MISSION Act

FREE FLU SHOT FOR VETERANS

14 VA Nurse Wins Magnet Nurse of the Year Award

15 End Harassment

15 LGBTQ Health Care Designation

16 Fisher House a Blessing

17 Adam’s Corner

18 Beaumont Staff Continue Caring for Veterans

19 Houston Texans Players Visit Veterans

19 Finding Your Way Around

FROM the DIRECTOR

Francisco Vazquez, MBA

20 WISER & ROVER Programs

22 Your Voice Matters

22 VA Video Connect

23 Million Veteran Program

23 Important Phone Numbers

Flu is a contagious respiratory disease that can lead to serious illness, hospitalization, or even death. Flu vaccination is the best

way to prevent flu and its potentially serious complications.

Veterans get your flu vaccines today! Protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu virus.

Where can you get the flu shot?• Michael E DeBakey VA Medical

Center: Primary Care provider Specialty Care provider Flu Walk-in Clinic: PrimeCare Clinic 1, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Monday-Friday• Main Lobby Flu Shot Clinic: October

9, MEDVAMC, Main Lobby, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.• All nine of our Community Based

Outpatient Clinics• Any Walgreens Pharmacy: No

appointment required. Tell the pharmacist you receive care at a VA facility, and show your Veterans Health identification card and another form of photo ID. Standard dose vaccines are free. There will be a fee for high dose vaccines for adults over age 65.

“We haven’t had a huge outbreak so far this year, but it’s still early,” said Susan Bogard, Health Promotion Disease Prevention Program manager. “The one thing about flu season is that it’s very unpredictable. Our two best defenses against it are to wash hands and get the flu shot.”

“Every season flu sickens millions of Americans, hospitalizes hundreds of thousands, and kills tens of thousands. The 2017-2018 flu season was the most severe in a decade. Be part of a growing population of individual who chose to fight the flu.

Army and Vietnam Veteran Clarence Shorter receives his flu shot in Prime Care Clinic 1. Photo by: Todd Goodman

Dear Veterans,As we close out 2019, I would like to take a moment to reflect with you on this

past year’s journey to deliver innovative, cutting-edge, and top-quality health care services to more than 114,000 Veterans in southeast Texas. This past year alone your Houston VA has achieved milestones that many thought impossible just a few

years ago. Here are a few I’d like to highlight:• This year we became the first VA in the country to achieve the American Nurse Credentialing

Center’s magnet status for nursing excellence for the 4th straight time. Our one of impressive nurse practitioners, Melissa Fadipe, was recognized as the 2019 Magnet Nurse of the Year for Transformational Leadership. I can’t tell you how proud I was to attend the International Magnet conference and witness our Houston VA nurses being recognized as among the best worldwide!

• Your Houston VA employed new robotic technology to ensure Veterans undergoing knee replacement surgeries experience less pain and recover faster. Our new robotic-arm assisted technology is the first of its kind employed in the VA and we are very proud to be able to bring this new 3-D technology to our Veterans here in Texas.

• Your Houston VA surgeons performed four simultaneous surgeries as they completed the first single-center paired kidney exchange done entirely at a VA Medical Center. The wife and sister of two different Navy Veterans donated kidneys in the swap, which ended up changing the lives of these Veterans forever. (Read more about this on page 6.)

• At the beginning of the year, we opened a brand new mental health outpatient building on our campus. The new building houses some of the more than 100 new mental health providers (psychologists, social workers, etc.) that we have hired to care for Veterans.

• Your Houston VA is a recognized leader in the use of telehealth. Veterans can now dial in for their appointments on their smart phones, tablets, and computers from the comfort of their own homes. Ask your provider if you are interested in receiving care via this technology. The Veterans I have talked to who use it have been very pleased.

• We had a very successful implementation of the MISSION Act here in Houston. We want our Veterans to choose to receive their care at the VA. However, in the event that we can’t provide care in a timely manner or a Veteran lives far away, the MISSION Act allows us to utilize care in the community as a way to make sure you are receiving prompt care. We have developed a network of hundreds of community care providers near Houston and our community based outpatient clinics and this network continues to grow as more providers sign up to care for Veterans.

In 2020, we will focus our efforts on improving the overall experience our Veterans have when they come to our medical center or one of our clinics. I promise that we will be tireless in our efforts to continue to provide you with care that is timely and Veteran-centric. I am excited about the future of VA and I, and all of our dedicated employees in southeast Texas, consider it an honor and privilege to care for you. Thank you for your service to our country and thank you for choosing us as your health care provider.

Sincerely,Francisco VazquezMedical Center Director and Proud Navy Veteran

Cover Photo: Army Veteran Candice Caesar, a walking quadriplegic, runs her first marathon with her son by her side. She was paralyzed in a 1999 auto accident. Photo provided by Veteran. Story on page 4. Photo provided by Veteran

Medical Center DirectorFrancisco Vazquez, MBA

Communications DirectorMaureen Dyman

Editor | DesignNikki Verbeck

Contributing Writer & PhotographerTodd Goodman

www.houston.va.govwww.facebook.com/HoustonVAMCwww.twitter.com/VAHoustonwww.instagram.com/HoustonVAMC

Published By: Communications OfficeMichael E. DeBakey VAMC2002 Holcombe Blvd.Houston, Texas 77030713.794.7349VHAHOUPublicAffairs@va.gov

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VHA is working to make sure all its facilities become smoke-free to protect the safety and health of our community.

There is overwhelming evidence that smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke creates significant medical risks, and a growing body of evidence that exposure to thirdhand smoke creates additional risks to safety and direct patient care.

All VA health care facilities implemented a smoke-free policy for all, beginning October 1. The policy is consistent with our mission to promote a healthy environment for patients, visitors, contractors, volunteers, vendors, and employees and is an important element of improving our health care system. The policy applies to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or any other

combustion of tobacco, including but not limited to electronic or e-cigarettes, vape pens or e-cigars.

We understand that this may present challenges to some and are committed as an organization to provide the resources and support to those who wish to participate in our smoking cessation programs. Veterans and employees interested in our smoking cessation programs should contact Susan Bogard, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Program manager, Susan.Bogard@va.gov or 713-791-1414, extension 28768.

Smoke-free resources:• www.va.gov/health/smokefree/• www.mentalhealth.va.gov/quit-tobacco/• https://veterans.smokefree.gov/

PARALYZED VETERAN NOW A MARATHONERThe National

Veterans Wheelchair

Games have given Army Veteran Candice Caesar a new social circle and extended family—but the inspiring part is what she’s had to overcome.

Caesar was stationed in Germany in 1999 when she was involved in a motor vehicle accident. The vehicle slid on black ice and crashed. A Soldier in the back seat, who was not wearing a seat belt, flew forward and slammed into her, breaking several of her vertebrae. She also punctured a lung and sustained a traumatic brain injury.

She was paralyzed.“I couldn’t move anything on my right side,”

she said.A German doctor fused her vertebrae but

nicked her vocal cord in the process, leaving her barely able to speak for six years.

Doctors told her they didn’t think she would walk again.

“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. I went straight into denial. And that is when I leaned on my faith and said, ‘I’m going to walk a marathon.’ I did not know that a marathon was 26.2 miles. That is just what came into my brain. You don’t know what you’re talking about. I just didn’t believe them.”

As she lay in bed, she lamented her lost military career. She was going to be a drill sergeant, get her commission, and become a physical therapist.

“I had a plan and now you’re telling me I can do none of these things?” Caesar said. “So, now you’re taking away my career and you’re telling me I can’t walk? Well, you’ve got to leave me something. I can’t have my Army career, but I

► by Todd Goodman

can have movement over my body. And that’s what happened.”

That attitude, as powerful as it is, only works when it’s turned on, she said. The first time she walked, she took two steps and then it was back into the wheelchair.

“There was a lot of falling,” she said. “There was a lot of bleeding. There was a lot of crying. Some days I lay in bed and said, ‘God, why did this happen to me? I need to die. I can’t kill myself, but

just let me die. Let me close my eyes and just die.’ I was in an awful place.”

She was desperate to get home to her two-year old son, whom she hadn’t seen since the accident. She begged doctors to discharge her. After approximately five weeks in the hospital, using a flat-bed crutch and a cane, she was able to walk enough to go home. She covered her right side in band-aids so her son would know not to touch her there. With communication an issue, as she could barely speak above a whisper, she used what was available.

“I blew whistles,” she said. “When I wanted him to stop, I blew once. When I wanted him to turn around, I blew twice. My kid was trained like a dog, basically. But that’s the best I could do.”

A speech therapist inspired her, working on her swallowing, her pitch, and her ability to project. She even suggested something at the time, which seemed unthinkable—a career change.

“She said, ‘You can be a speech pathologist.’ What are you talking about? I can’t remember anything! I can’t speak! I can’t hear! And the therapist told me, ‘I’m going to get you right.’”

When Caesar was medically retired from the Army in 2002, life was tough, with many nights spent in tears. However, she kept getting physically and mentally stronger, incorporating more and more muscles.

“When I left the Army, I was able to walk with a cane, with assistance, and some leg braces,” she said. “To walk I have to pick my hip and quad up and put it down. I’ve got a lot of movement. It’s still weak, but it’s movement.”

So much movement that she did what she assured her doctors in Germany that she would do—run/walk a marathon. So far, she’s done 17 marathons and 73 half marathons in 43 states. When her Houston VA doctor advised her to find other activities, as running was too tough on her body, Caesar joined Paralyzed Veterans of America Texas Chapter and discovered a slew of things she could do, to include Wheelchair Games.

“I had the best time with Wheelchair Games,” she said. “When I left (this year’s games in Louisville, KY), I had 20 new connections. I will never be alone again in another state. I didn’t understand the different activities and organizations that I could be a part of and learned all of that by going to Wheelchair Games and being hooked up with the Paralyzed Veterans of America. They just have no idea how they’ve changed my life.

Her favorite event at the games was using

Candice Caesar participates in her favorite National Veterans Wheelchair Games event—the 10K. She is seen here

using a hand-cycle. Photo provided by Veteran.

a hand cycle to do the 10K. There was a “killer hill” that she had to pass several times. That hill almost got the best of her, but she persevered and once she conquered it the first time, her confidence soared.

“When I passed somebody using his legs and I’m using my arms, that just gave me a little extra power,” she said. “I thought, ‘Oh! I can beat people using their legs!’ For me, I was like, “Oh, my God, I’m passing him up!’ That gave me some extra motivation. I could have gone another 10K around the course, I had that much fun at Wheelchair Games.”

Caesar is determined to make these games an annual event, no matter what is going on in her busy life. Since the accident, she’s gotten two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s degree in speech pathology and currently works as a speech pathologist, working with autistic children. She continues to receive care for her spinal cord injury at the Houston VA Medical Center.

“I have to be at the Wheelchair Games,” she said. “I have people to hang out with, people to talk to, connections to make, and some rivals to beat.”

VA GOES SMOKE-FREE

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Adrian Luna and Mike Green now have more in common than just their military service in the U.S. Navy. A crisscross of

organ donations recently changed their lives and their families forever.

In October, Luna and Green were the first recipients of a single-center paired kidney exchange performed entirely at a VA Medical Center. The donors? Family members of the other veteran.

A paired kidney exchange (commonly known as a kidney swap) happens when a potential living donor for kidney transplantation is incompatible with the intended recipient. If another compatible donor/recipient pair is identified, the donors can switch, and both patients can receive life-saving transplants.

In this case, Green received a kidney donated by Luna’s wife, Sandra. At the exact same time, Luna received a kidney donated by Green’s sister, Angela. All donor and recipient operations were performed at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston. The recipients and donors are all doing great post-operatively.

“I only had the surgery a few days ago and I already feel like a new person,” said Green, who traveled from Amarillo, Texas for the surgery. “As a type 1 diabetic, I was diagnosed with kidney issues years ago and have been on dialysis since. This surgery has already changed my life.”

When VA doctors told Green he needed a transplant, several of his eight siblings stepped up to help as potential donors. After undergoing a battery of tests, his sister, Angela, was found to be a good match and the surgery was scheduled.

That’s when Transplant Nurse Manager Priscilla Sloan, R.N. came into the picture.

“Priscilla asked if I would consider donating my kidney to another veteran whose wife was willing to donate her kidney. That kidney was an even better match for my brother,” said Angela. “I thought – what a win-win for everyone. It was a great opportunity for me to share my good health and help not just my brother, but another veteran who served our country.”

A Navy Corpsman from 1998 – 2005, Adrian Luna deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom and has many vivid memories of his time on the battlefield. Now living in Los Angeles, California, he and his wife, Sandra, are parents to five

children, ranging in age from 5 to 12. Suffering from kidney disease, he has been anxiously awaiting a kidney transplant for the past several years.

“Waiting for a donor was very stressful for Adrian and for our family. I would have been happy to give him my kidney, but we weren’t a match,” said Sandra. “When we found out that I matched a veteran in Texas, we were thrilled. I am so grateful to be able to donate my kidney to Mike, and so thankful to Angela for doing the same for my husband and our family.”

At the Houston VA, a dedicated team of specialists including two abdominal transplant surgeons, two urologic surgeons, four anesthesiologists, and four separate operating room teams conducted the seven-hour series of operations. Each donor procedure was performed using three-dimensional laparoscopic equipment through a single small incision that, once fully healed, is barely visible. For the recipient operations, the kidneys are placed in the pelvis through an incision in the lower abdomen.

The need for kidney donors is growing and the paired donation program is a great way to shorten the wait for an organ says Ronald Cotton, M.D., FACS, surgical director of the Houston VA Solid Organ Transplant Program. “Living donors not only help an intended recipient but can also help someone else on the transplant list who may desperately need a kidney. The gift that any living kidney donor

gives, whether they know the person or not, is precious. Agreeing to donate an organ is a truly amazing gesture.”

According to Sandra, the benefits of donating her kidney far outweighed the potential risks. “As a mother of five kids, I did not make the decision to donate my kidney lightly. I really feel I was given a gift in the form of an opportunity to change the lives of both my husband and Mike, who is really a great guy. The surgery went very smoothly, my recovery has been uneventful and in fact, this surgery has made me a lot more mindful about my own health.”

“The quality of the medical care at the Houston VA has been second to none. I feel like I have a second chance after this surgery,” said Luna, who is looking forward to going home a much-improved quality of life.

According to Nephrology Section and Solid

Organ Transplant Program Chief Venkat Ramanathan, M.D., FASN, it takes a great deal of coordination, planning, and teamwork to execute the four simultaneous surgeries necessary for a paired donation transplant, but the Houston VA Transplant Team is looking forward to performing more in the future. “I firmly believe living donor transplant is the best option for our veterans since it offers a better quality of life for the recipient without the wait on the transplant list, which averages eight to ten

years. Our entire team is honored to provide this service to our nation’s heroes.”

For more information about the Solid Organ Transplant Program or how to become a living kidney donor, contact the Houston VA Transplant Center at 713-794-8767.

CRISSCROSS ORGAN SWAP ALTERS NAVY VETERANS’ LIVES ► by Maureen Dyman

“The quality of the medical care at the Houston VA has been second to none. I feel like I have a second chance after this

surgery,” said Veteran Adrian Luna (left) with fellow Veteran and kidney transplant recipient Mike Green, who lives in

Amarillo, Texas and received a kidney donated by Luna’s wife. Luna, who lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife and five children, received a kidney donated by Green’s sister.

Photo by: Todd Goodman

In October, Navy Veterans Mike Green (left, with Luna’s wife, Sandra) and Adrian Luna (with Green’s sister, Angela) were

the first recipients of a paired kidney donation and live donor surgery at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in

Houston. Photo courtesy the Luna and Green families.

The Houston VAMC has a new support group for Veterans living with life-limiting and life-threatening illnesses.

The Palliative Care Veteran Support Group “Finding a Path Through the Wilderness” will be held every Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. on the first floor of Building 108A. The support group is also available via telehealth at select VA Community Based Outpatient Clinics.

Members will meet other patients, explore their individual coping and grief processes, and gain knowledge and skills to help themselves and each other.

Each session will include a rotating topic with coping skills education, as well as time for

PALLIATIVE C ARE SUPPORT GROUPopen discussion and support.

Stress & CopingMood ManagementSocial SupportsQuality of LifeLeaving a LegacyInterested Veterans should contact the

group facilitator, Dr. L. Alexis Correll, palliative psychologist at 713-791-1414, extension 26948, to register for the support group.

MEDVAMC offers a variety of support groups for Veterans and their family members. See them on our website at www.houston.va.gov/services/Support_Groups.asp.

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New robotic technology at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston is ensuring Veterans undergoing knee

replacement surgeries experience less pain and recover faster.

Recently, David M. Green, M.D., M.S. and Melvyn A. Harrington, Jr., M.D., orthopedic surgeons at the Houston VA, performed the VA’s first total knee replacement using the Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted technology.

The patient, a 73-year-old Navy Veteran, is recovering nicely.

“We do more than 400 knee replacements at the Houston VA every year,” said Green, who is also board certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. “This new technology will allow us to perform these surgeries with even more precision. It allows for more precise bone preparation, less soft tissue injury and potentially a less painful and speedier recovery for our Veterans.”

The new technology creates a 3-D virtual model of each patient’s bone anatomy, allowing surgeons to map out the procedure beforehand and size the implant perfectly by using the Veteran’s computed tomography (CT) scan. Surgeons use the virtual model to practice placing the implants or artificial joints in

precisely the right location, making adjustments as necessary. The technology provides a personalized surgical plan for each Veteran, based on their unique anatomy.

“The 3-D model simulates how a knee will move and act once an implant is in place,” said Harrington, who is also an associate professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. “Once the virtual model is complete, we use the robotic arm to perform the bone cuts

so the implant can be precisely placed.”

The most common cause of knee pain in older adults is osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that causes the deterioration of joint cartilage and surrounding bones in the knees. When osteoarthritis of the knees becomes severe,

normal activities like walking or going up stairs can become painful or

nearly impossible. Knee replacement surgeries can offer Veterans a solution to this pain and improve their quality of life.

Houston VA doctors are thrilled to be able to use this state-of-the-art technology to improve recovery time for Veterans with limited mobility who are often in a great deal of pain.

“We are committed to offering our Veterans the best care along with the latest technology,” said Green. “They deserve nothing but the best, and we are proud to give it to them.”

PRECISE ROBOTIC KNEE SURGERY FAST-TRACKS RECOVERY ► by Maureen Dyman

LOSE FAT THROUGH MOVE!When Veterans

want to lose weight, they

get moving through the MOVE! program, which covers different topics on healthy eating, behavior modification, and physical activity.

MOVE! has several components, including a health teaching kitchen, support groups, weekly class series, telehealth options, walking groups, and more. All are designed to bring Veteran health to the forefront.

“It’s really rewarding when the Veteran tells me, ‘I feel better and I have more energy,’” said Jordyn Forsyth, MOVE! weight management coordinator. “They show up to class and seem happier with themselves. I love it when they lose weight, but when I can see the outcomes in their energy levels or mood and can see that it’s improving their quality of life, that’s when I know I’m really making a difference. The weight outcomes are great, but the real outcome is they are improving their overall health through the program.”

More than 4,000 Veterans come through the program each year. At the end of the main courses, Veterans are asked to do a survey to see if they have made changes and how successful they were. This feedback helps staff plan the program.

“I think it’s a good program for empowering Veterans to take control of health and equips them with the skills needed to not only treat but also prevent several chronic diseases,” said Forsyth.

Army Veteran Warren Faubion, 65, chose MOVE! for that very reason—he didn’t want to be on medication for cholesterol and high blood pressure. He completed the 16-week program and lost 15 pounds.

“We met once a week and covered everything from exercise to counting calories,” said Faubion. “You learn to read food labels and they give you a pedometer so you can track your movement. It helps motivate you. I forced

► by Todd Goodman

myself through the pain of a hip injury to walk again and choose the natural path. It gave me a much more active lifestyle. As you get older, you get stuck in your ways and don’t move around as much. So, I am immensely thankful to the program for getting me moving again.”

In addition to the 16-week program, Faubion also completed MOVE!

Chef and a gardening class. He credits the cooking class with giving him the best

nugget of information.“The pearl I took from that class was the

green smoothie,” he said. “The recipe was simple and got rid of my cravings for processed foods. I lost 16 pounds and much of my arthritic pain disappeared. I have not missed a day of the smoothies since taking that class. I didn’t change my diet and it required no effort other than making that smoothie. My stomach feels tight and my energy has increased. It was effortless. MOVE! has been lifesaving for me.”

Weight loss isn’t easy and results vary, but 25% of people who participate in MOVE! lose at least five percent of their total body weight.

“Five percent is the goal is to improve health outcomes for obesity,” said Forsyth. “It’s been shown to improve heart health and extend life span. Some Vets come in and want to lose 100 or 200 pounds, but just focusing on that first 5-10% is where we get started. I do have people who end up losing 100 pounds, but it takes a little longer than 16 weeks.”

There are many options within the program that Veterans may find appealing. Patients interested in losing weight and enrolling in the MOVE! program can call Forsyth at (713) 791-1414 ext. 26166 to get started.

“If it weren’t for the MOVE! program, I don’t know what I would have done,” said Faubion. “Jordyn got me moving again. She gave me an alternative … I don’t take blood pressure or cholesterol meds and I was on the path of needing them. The program changed my life and put a smile on my face.”

Jordyn Forsyth, MOVE! weight management coordina-tor watches Army Veteran Warren Faubion demonstrate

his newly-acquired cooking skills in the Health Teaching Kitchen. Photo by: Todd Goodman

Houston VA doctors are thrilled to be able to use this state-of-the-art technology to improve recovery time for Veterans with limited mobility who are often in a

great deal of pain. Photo by: VA staff

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The Houston VA is working closely with the City of

Houston and other local agencies to increase suicide awareness and prevention support for Veterans, servicemembers and their families. This effort is part of a nationwide Mayor’s Challenge where we join City of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and local active military and Veterans organizations to end Veteran suicide.

Houston was one of the original seven cities to participate in the challenge organized by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

During a recent press conference, Mayor Turner discussed the challenge. “Partnerships between our local community, government, and non-profit agencies will allow us to reach Houston area Veterans where they live, work, and thrive,” said Mayor Turner. “We want to expand the conversation around suicide and reduce stigma for mental health and suicide.”

Using a public health approach, the Houston Mayor’s Challenge team has developed multiple new and innovative strategies to prevent suicide in service members, Veterans, and their families.

• The Harris Center and the Houston VA now have a hand-off system between the two agencies to assist with the care of Veterans.

• A network of communication between local hospitals and the VA to assist with veteran care is being built.

• The Houston Police Department and Houston Fire Department are better able to identify suicidal behavior and will begin

referring people to ensure follow up care is offered.• The Houston Health Department is working with hospitals and the Houston VA to enhance care coordination for veterans who are discharged after suicide attempts.

“An estimated 300,000 Veterans live in the Houston-area. We all have a role to play in preventing

suicide, especially when it comes to those who have served our country with duty, honor, and courage,” Mayor Turner said. “I’m proud of my Veterans Affairs Office for accepting the Mayor’s Challenge and joining with vital on-the-ground local agencies to address the epidemic of Veteran suicide.”

“Preventing Veteran suicide is the highest clinical priority at the VA and we are committed to bringing as many resources as possible to bear to solve this issue here in Houston,” said Frank Vazquez, Houston VA medical center director

• The Houston VA opened a brand-new building for outpatient mental health earlier this year.

• We offer a robust marriage and family therapy program and have hired eight licensed marriage and family therapist to assist Veterans and their families.

• We have hired more than 100 new front-line mental health providers, including psychologist, social workers, psychiatrists, and more over the last year.

• Houston VA has embedded mental health professionals in our primary clinics to reach Veterans where they are, and we are embedding more and more in our specialty clinics like cardiology and women’s health.

• We have vigorously trained our staff of over 5,400 on how to recognize and assist

► by Maureen Dyman

Medical Center Director Francisco Vazquez and Mental Health Care Line Executive Dr. Laura Marsh spoke to

media following the City of Houston Mayor’s Challenge press conference. Photo by: Maureen Dyman

MAYOR’S CHALLENGE TO PREVENT VETERAN SUICIDEVeterans in crisis across our VA.

• We have six full time suicide prevention coordinators who work tirelessly to follow up on calls from the Veterans Crisis Line and assist Veterans in crisis.

• We offer same day mental health care for veterans in crisis at our main medical center and any of our nine community based outpatient clinics.

“Suicide is a complex issue with no one single cause. It is a national public health issue that affects people from all walks of life, not just Veterans. But just as there is no single cause of suicide, no single organization can end Veteran suicide alone,” Vazquez said. “The Houston VA is proud to be a part of the Houston Mayor’s Challenge, working with the amazing people here today and all members of our Houston community to put an end to Veteran suicide.”

The Houston Mayors Challenge is a partnership between the City of Houston Police, Fire, Health, and Veterans affairs departments; the Houston VA; Texas Health and Human Services Commission; the Harris Center, Counsel on Recovery, Combined Arms, and other local agencies.

“Working together, we can end Veteran suicide. We know that treatment works, and that recovery is possible,” said Vazquez. “Please help us spread the word. Houston VA is here for our Veterans. We offer our Veterans high quality health care delivered in a Veteran-centric manner, with a sense of urgency. We want all Veterans to know that we are ready and able to serve them here in Houston.”

For more information on Houston VA’s mental health services, visit www.houston.va.gov/services/Mental_Health.asp

For more information on VA’s suicide prevention campaign, visit www.veteranscrisisline.net/bethere.

For information on SAMHSA’s suicide prevention efforts, visit www.samhsa.gov/suicide-prevention/samhsas-efforts.

Veterans in crisis or having thoughts of suicide — and those who know a Veteran in crisis — should call the Veterans Crisis Line for confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. Call 800-273-8255 and press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text to 838255.

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that the patients greatly appreciate.

“We try to remove the anxiety from getting a breast exam,” Dr. Parizi said. “The majority of our patients get their results face-to-face before leaving the center. If we see an abnormality that needs a biopsy, we try to perform the biopsy before the patient leaves. In the private world, most

patients go home and wait for a letter with their

results. Here, we do everything the same day. They go home knowing what their results are and that alleviates a lot of anxiety.”

Anxiety and depression were two feelings that Army Veteran Kim Pham, 30, felt when cancer recently was discovered by Parizi during a breast exam. Her cancer was a hair away from being stage-4 when treatment began. Pham has no family history of cancer.

“I felt like I had been punched into space,” Pham said. “Everything I knew was just completely shattered. It was the sensation of your life being turned upside down.”

Parizi still calls Pham to check in on her to make sure she is doing well and in good spirits.

“I’m just so grateful that I have this facility,” Pham said. “I’m blown away by how fortunate I am. Everything lined up just right because I could be in a really bad situation right now.”

Top programs have three things in common and Houston VAMC has them all: The physician who interprets the mammograms is sub-specialized in breast radiology; use of 3-D mammography; and hires the most experienced technologists. This center checks each box. Its technologists have between 15-25 years of work experience.

“We brought all of these quality parameters together and we were able to create this amazing program, which became accredited with the American College of Radiology, and has passed annual FDA inspections two years in a row with

BREAST IMAGING SAVES LIVESperfect scores,” said Dr. Parizi. “Our next step is to become a Center of Excellence in breast imaging. Currently, the VA has 68 breast imaging programs and only one center of excellence (Phoenix). We hope to become the second.”

So, when should women Veterans get a screening mammogram to check for breast cancer? Currently, there are differing recommendations regarding screening mammography. However, Dr. Parizi points out that The American College of Radiology, the American College of Surgeons, and the Society of Breast Imaging—breast experts who are most knowledgeable about breast cancer and diagnosing it—recommend to get a screening mammogram once annually, beginning at 40 years old (even when a patient does not have a family history of breast cancer).

Army Veteran Kim Pham, 30, receives chemotherapy for breast cancer at Houston VAMC. Photo by: Todd Goodman

“The science repeatedly demonstrates that we save the most lives when we screen annually starting at age 40” she said. “Up to 75% of breast cancers occur in women with no family history of breast cancer. The biggest risk factor is gender: simply being a woman.”

One of the other unique and excellent components of the Breast Imaging Center is that it helped launch a Breast Cancer Support group for women who are currently going through breast cancer treatment or are survivors. This is unique to the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center as many programs, including non-VA practices, do not have this type of holistic approach to the patient. Veterans can now schedule their screening mammograms by calling (713) 791-1414, extension 22471 or 24515.

► by Todd Goodman

I n the two-plus years that the Houston VA’s

Breast Imaging Center has been in operation, more than 14,000 breast exams have been performed and the Breast Imaging Center has become a model of care across the nation’s VAs for Women Veterans.

“We started our program from the ground up and have molded it into a quality program that is comparable to some of the top-notch facilities in Houston,” said Dr. Mahdieh Parizi, chief of the Breast Imaging Center, whose sub-specialty is breast radiology. “Our goal was to set up a very elite, high-quality practice that can meet the needs of our Veterans and be a shining star in the Houston community and beyond.”

This is precisely what the facility has accomplished. The center boasts two 3-D mammography machines, each equipped with the latest Smart-Curve technology and high-resolution detectors. Smart-Curve refers to the paddles used during a mammogram, which allows for a more comfortable exam. High-resolution 3D detectors allow cancers to be discovered much earlier—a key to better prognosis. In fact, very few practices and facilities in Houston have the smart-curve technology and the high-resolution software.

Another new and cutting-edge technology that will be implemented by the Breast Imaging Center is the use of radiofrequency emitting tags to localize tumors for the surgery team. This new technology will make it more efficient and convenient for the patients to have localization of the tumors without having to be stressed about the use of a wire (the most common technology in place). Additionally, this new technology allows for a more flexible and patient friendly timing between when the tag is placed and when the patient has excision of the tagged tumor, a factor

access Care When You Need It

If you have a need for primary or mental health care, you can have it addressed the same day during regular business hours. At the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System, you can be seen by your provider or another appropriate clinical staff member, by phone, through video care, Myhealthevet, or whatever way is most appropriate for the care you need.

Talk to your PACT or Mental Health Team to learn about all the options you have to access care when you need it.

“ The care that I am receiving here is second to none. I am recognized as a person, not a number. Myhealthevet allows me to communicate with my

doctors and get quick responses for my health concerns.”

- U.S. Army Veteran J.C. Arens UH-1N Crew Chief & Door Gunner

Can Tho Delta, Vietnam (1970-1971)

MISSION AC T

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HOUSTON VA NURSE WINS MAGNET NURSE OF THE YEAR AWARDMelissa Fadipe, MSN, APRN,

FNP-C, one of our Nurse Practitioners, is the recipient of

the American Nurse Credential Center’s (ANCC) 2019 Magnet Nurse of the Year Award for Transformational Leadership.

The award recognizes outstanding contributions of clinical nurses to innovation, consultation, leadership and professional risk taking.

The Houston VA is the first VA in the country to earn the ANCC’s Magnet recognition for nursing excellence four times.

“Fadipe’s commitment to her Veteran patients and to making a positive impact on those around her is inspiring to her co-workers,” said Kelly Irving, associate director for patient care services. Congratulations!

Fadipe has been a nurse practitioner in the Epilepsy Center of Excellence (ECoE) since 2016. She spends her days improving care for Veterans living with epilepsy and PNES.

She’s working to standardize care at all VA Epilepsy Centers of excellence nationwide and collaborates with specialists at the Epilepsy Foundation Texas on the “You Are Not Alone” initiative.

“I like working in the VA system because the advances that we make can be spread nationwide and I truly enjoy advocating for our nation’s heroes,” Fadipe said. “I choose nursing because it allows me to make a difference in the lives of my Veteran patients and the community, and I care to evolve as a leader.”

► by Maureen Dyman

Several Houston VA Medical Center employees at the ANCC Magnet con-ference. Photo provided by VA staff.

The MEDVAMC earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) Health Care Equality Index,

earning the “LGBTQ Health Care Equality Leader” designation. The HRC Foundation is education arm of America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.

The designation was awarded in the 12th edition of HRC’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). A record 680 health care facilities actively participated in the HEI 2019 survey, with HRC Foundation proactively researching key policies at 1000 additional non-participating hospitals. Of those included in the HEI, MEDVAMC was one of 406 who earned a “LGBTQ health care Equality Leader” designation.

“MEDVAMC aspires to provide LGBT

“LGBTQ HEALTH C ARE EQUALIT Y LEADER” DESIGNATIONVeterans with state-of-the-art patient centered services in an inclusive and welcoming environment,” said Dr. Hiram Rivera-Mercado, LGBT Veteran Care Coordinator. “Receiving the Leadership status from HEI means we are continually progressing toward giving our LGBT Veteran population what they look for in healthcare institutions.”

“We are so proud to have this designation,” said Elizabeth Steen, LGBT Veteran Care Coordinator. “We strive to be leaders in LGBT healthcare, and as the only hospital in the Texas Medical Center to receive the HEI Leadership designation, we feel honored to be recognized.”

For more information about LGBT services at the MEDVAMC, visit www.houston.va.gov/services/LGBT_Program.asp. For more information about the VA LGBT Program, visit www.patientcare.va.gov/LGBT/.

Fadipe, 2nd from right, accepted the award at theANCC Magnt Conference. Photo provided by VA staff.

END HARASSMENT

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Houston VA Fisher House III recently opened an area

solely dedicated to children—a place where they can play, read, and just be kids while Veterans and family members manage medical care. It’s called Adam’s Corner in memory of Army Veteran Adam Garcia who died from injuries sustained while serving in Iraq.

This is the fourth Adam’s Corner to open in a Fisher House, with many more planned in the future. The idea came in 2006 when Garcia was critically injured by small arms fire. He was transported to an Army hospital in southwest Germany and that is where his parents and sister had their first Fisher House experience.

“It was so welcoming and heartwarming that we felt comfortable leaving our 12-year-old daughter there while we went to the hospital,” said Cynthia Garcia, Adam’s mom. “But there was nothing for her to do, nothing for her to read while we dealt with adult stuff. She was bored out of her mind.”

And that was how the idea was born. Her daughter asked, “Wouldn’t it be neat to have a corner somewhere where kids could just sit while you guys talk about whatever you talk about?”

Cynthia, an employee at Comcast Dallas, told her co-workers what she wanted to do and they took it on as their project. It immediately took off.

A Dallas Fisher House gave them a 10’x10’ corner, which was set up with a mat, chairs and bookshelves. Donation boxes were set up at her work and they received so many children’s

ADAM’S CORNER LETS KIDS BE KIDS

books they didn’t know what to do with them.

“We had so many books left over that we opened another Adam’s Corner in Fort Hood.” Cynthia said. “But this is by far the biggest we have opened. It has morphed into an Adam’s Room here in Houston. I just love how Fisher House has allowed us to do this.”

For Frank Kelley, manager of Houston VA’s Fisher Houses, the

decision to get involved with this project was an easy one.

“As times change and we get more Veterans and active-duty members with children, the opportunity to provide Adam’s Corner is a true

blessing as it gives the youngsters a place of their own while they spend time with us here at the Fisher House.”

Her goal is to see an Adam’s Corner in every Fisher House in the country with 10 more scheduled this year by the Comcast Employee Resource Group.

“I feel lucky to work for a company that embraces that culture, that unity, that family,” she said.

Cynthia hung a picture and bio of her son in the room dedicated at Fisher House III.

“I hope that children read this and get to know who my son was,” she said. “He was loving. He was the funny one in the group, but he was the protector of the group. He was a kid at heart. I’m happy that they opened up their doors and let us bring in a little piece of Adam.”

Cynthia Garcia displays the portrait and bio of her son, Adam Garcia, who died in 2006 from injuries sustained in Iraq. Adam’s Corner are being opened in Fisher Houses across the country to give children a place to call their

own. Photo by: Todd Goodman

Children play in Houston VA Fisher House III, where the latest Adam’s Corner recently opened. Adam’s Corner lets kids be kids while parents focus on Veteran health

concerns. Photo by: Todd Goodman

FISHER HOUSE A BLESSING

For two Army Vietnam Veterans fighting cancer, living at the Houston VA Fisher House has been a game changer.

Harry Robinson Sr. 75, a door gunner in Vietnam, and Leonard Adams, 69, a heavy equipment repairman known as “Mr. Fix it”, each currently reside in Fisher House III on the campus of Houston VAMC. And each man has come a long way since his initial cancer diagnosis.

“I’ve had prostate cancer for 21 years,” said Robinson, currently in stage four cancer recovery. “I’ve been treated at MD Anderson with six rounds of chemo treatment. My prognosis is looking good. All my vital signs are normal. I feel pretty good right now and have a very positive outlook.”

Adams, who hadn’t been to a VA in 41 years, said outside doctors didn’t know what was wrong with him. “That wasn’t encouraging to me because I needed help,” he said. “But there was one doctor at the Houston VA who told me, ‘Before you leave here, I’m going to get you well.’”

Adams had eight rounds of chemotherapy and 100 stem cells from 100 different people. His blisters, which covered his body less the soles of his feet, began to clear up.

“The blisters were everywhere,” he said. “All in my mouth, all in my throat. One got in my eye, which caused me to see double. I was a terrible sight to see.”

However, both men today look and sound great. And in addition to the stellar care they each have received, living at the Fisher House has put each one—and their wives—at ease. Fisher House takes the worry out of everyday living and allows the Veterans to focus on just getting better.

“We all are family here in the Fisher House,” said Robinson. “We’re all here for the same thing. I’ve been here since Feb. 20. This is it … home away from home.”

Adams, who has resided at Fisher House since Feb. 25, has so much appreciation for his time here.

“Being here brings a lot of relief and joy,” said Adams. “They make you feel like you’re in your own house. They make you feel like you are family. That’s how it makes you feel. You’re not alone in this. It just encourages us and takes

► by Todd Goodman

our minds off this stuff that we’re afflicted with. Being here is like being at your own house.”

At one’s own home, family would be present. And that’s exactly what makes Fisher House special. Family members of Veterans can stay at no cost while a loved one receives treatment.

“As for the Veteran in the hospital, it is important for them to know we in the Fisher House will be doing everything we can for their loved ones and caregivers, to protect and give them the support they need while they are here,” said Frank Kelley, Fisher House manager. “The people in the hospital need to know their loved ones are taken care of so they can concentrate on getting better.”

While at Fisher House, family members of various Veterans form bonds and help one another. They become a support system for each other.

“You meet people from all walks,” said Carolyn Adams, wife of Leonard. “Everybody here has something going on in their lives. Fisher House makes you like family because you have no one else. We depend on each other. We’re here to help each other. We are all here fighting together for our loved ones. It’s a wonderful place. It goes beyond what they intended.”

Carolyn has been on Family Medical Leave for more than a year. She said her work will call every now and then to ask her to come back, but she refuses to leave her husband’s side.

“I don’t want you to leave me” said Adams. “Honestly speaking—I’m not ashamed to say that I don’t know what I’d do without her here.”

U.S. Army Vietnam Veterans Leonard Adams (left) and Harry Robinson Sr. speak about their battles with cancer and the blessing it is to live at the Fisher House. Photo by: Todd

Goodman

► by Todd Goodman

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BEAUMONT STAFF CONTINUE C ARING FOR VETERANS

Tropical Storm Imelda may have flooded the Beaumont VA Outpatient Clinic, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of the Beaumont

staff as it continues to provide exceptional service to area Veterans.

A medical mobile unit, medical tents, temporary medical shelters were set up to provide Veterans with primary care, mental health, and laboratory services. In a difficult situation, staff members have made the best of it.

“We pulled together and did what we had to do to take care of our patients,” said Liz Taylor, RN, clinic nurse manager. “They are the reason we’re here. And we’re just happy that we can continue to care for them while the clinic is repaired.”

The Veterans who have utilized services at the temporary clinic have been impressed with the efficiency of the operations.

“Hey, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do in situations like this,” said Marine Corps and Vietnam Veteran Frank Buchholz. “I think they’ve done a great job.”

Buchholz is a Beaumont clinic regular, where he gets his primary care and lab work. He travels to Michael E. Debakey for his cancer treatments. He was diagnosed with stage four bone marrow

cancer several years back. He currently is in remission. However, this is his third or fourth time being in remission.

“I was supposed to have been dead already,” Buchholz said. “The VA has kept me alive. I’m one of a few who has lived this long with this type of cancer. The VA has taken good care of me.”

Navy Veteran Otis Patterson echoed those sentiments. Patterson, who was diagnosed with stage 3 bone cancer, raved about the mobile clinic setup.

“This is tremendous,” he said. “This is top of the line. Seeing this (mobile clinic) takes me back to Iraq, but looks better because it’s got no sand and it’s not 142 degrees.”

When asked about his care at the Beaumont clinic, Patterson spoke effusively.

“God placed Dr. Pedrito Mangawang at the Beaumont Clinic in my life to see me through this situation because he has gone above and beyond the call of duty,” he said. “I love him. I get my care from the Blue Team. When the clinic stops at 4 p.m., they don’t stop until the job is done. They’ve stayed with me until 6 p.m. I appreciate what they do so much, at the highest levels.”

Repairs of the new clinic are ongoing, and we hope to be back in the clinic building treating Veterans in the Spring.

Marine Corps and Vietnam Veteran Frank Buchholz praised the efforts of the staff at the Beaumont Mobile Outpatient Clinic

and remarked at how smoothly the operation was running. Photo by: Todd Goodman

Navy Veteran Otis Patterson visited the Beaumont Mobile Out-patient Clinic to see his provider. Photo by: Todd Goodman

► by Todd Goodman

HOUSTON TEXANS PLAYERS VISIT VETERANSHouston Texans players visited

our Community Living Center today to spread holiday cheer

and pass out gift bags to our patients. Army and Vietnam Veteran Robert Ausberry, a finance clerk in the military, was thrilled to meet them. “You all just don’t know how much this means to me,” he said. “What a pleasure it is to meet you guys.” Ausberry entertained the Texans with stories of his college football days at North Texas. It was there he played with future hall of famer Mean Joe Greene.

► by Todd Goodman

Pictured left to right: John Weeks, #46, long snapper; Kenny Stills, #12, wide receiver; Veteran

Robert Ausberry; and Ka’imi Fairbairn, #7, kicker. Photo by: Todd Goodman

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When weekly therapy is not enough to tackle

trauma, WISER and ROVER takes treatment to the next level.

Women’s Inpatient Specialty Environment of Recovery (WISER) and Returning OEF/OIF/OND Veterans’ Environment of Recovery (ROVER) are five-week inpatient trauma treatment programs that each accommodate up to 10 patients. The programs were created in 2008 by a joint task force that represented psychiatry, psychology, and social work. Veterans stay on a psychiatric unit on the sixth floor of the Houston VA Medical Center.

WISER helps women Veterans of all eras, while ROVER focuses on post 9/11 male Veterans who have a combat-related PTSD diagnosis. The treatment is intensive, but the benefit is that as an inpatient, it’s a controlled environment with 24/7 support.

“Instead of doing one session for an hour and then coming back a week later and saying, ‘Where were we?’, they set aside a month just for themselves, lock the world out and get it done,” said Claudia Mullin, LCSW, and WISER social worker. “It’s like a year’s worth of therapy in about five weeks. It’s an excellent way of dealing with trauma, but they must be ready for it.”

“Before I went to the WISER program, I wasn’t living,” said Navy Veteran Monica Delano. “I was just existing. I was also in a very dark place. In general, my thought pattern was very negative. I was stuck in the past and could not get motivated about my future. I was constantly upset, easily offended and very irritable. I isolated myself from friends and family and seldom left my house.

“Since completing WISER, I am happier,” she added. “I am accepting the things that happened in the past and keeping them there. I challenge the negative thoughts with the tools I learned. My sleeping has improved, and I have started working out consistently, finding hobbies I

WISER & ROVER TAKE TREATMENT TO NEX T LEVEL ► by Todd Goodman

enjoy, walking my dog and getting out of the house more. The program—although challenging at times—ended up being one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

Veterans must be ready to deal with a lot of emotions that bubble to the surface during cognitive processing therapy (CPT), which is done in both one-on-one therapy with a

psychologist and in peer groups.

“The groups are powerful for them to find out they are not the only ones,” said Mullin. “To hear that from other Veterans is very freeing for them.”

CPT stirs up the Veteran’s emotions by making them talk about the details of their trauma. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills help them make sense of those emotions.

“DBT teaches them skills to deal with those emotions so they can survive and think straight,” said Mullin. “It helps them at least be able to breathe. We get them to focus on other things and teach them how to bring themselves down. The flashback is not real. This is real (she taps the desk in her office). And they go, ‘Oh, I can do this. I can survive this. It’s not real. I’m not in war again. I’m not in a rape again.’ That’s what DBT is about … to give them the skills to manage their emotions.”

“I was taught several skills that have helped me move forward from events that happened in my past and help me overcome issues that I face in the present,” said Delano.

One of the DBT skills they learn is called STOP—stop, take a step back, observe, and proceed mindfully.

“A lot of times your emotions are high and of course your behavior will follow those high emotions,” said Chassity Brantley, LMSW, and ROVER social worker. “In combat, you needed that. You needed to be on edge because you had to react quickly. But unfortunately, they continue that on-edge behavior as if they are in war during regular life. This gives you the

opportunity to hit the pause button, stop what you’re doing, and proceed mindfully.”

Mindfulness is a term that comes up often during therapy and it means being in the moment.

“Veterans are either depressed because of the past or they are anxious about the future and they are missing staying in the present,” said Mullin. “That is why mindfulness is such a powerful tool.”

In session, patients will be given candy and told to think about it as they eat it. What do they taste? What do they smell? What types of texture do they feel? The idea is for them to get in touch with their senses.

“Mindfulness is a practice that allows Vets to be more in touch with their emotions,” said Brantley. “It’s not just zero to 100, I got angry, I blanked out and don’t know what happened. Because you practiced mindfulness, you are more aware … my heart is beating fast, I’m beginning to sweat, I’m clinching my fists. Now, you’re more in tune to what’s going on inside and you can stop it before you get to that point of aggression.”

Female Veterans on a sailing outing. “The other beautiful thing that happens

here is we see the kid in them come out,” said Mullin. “Suddenly, being mindful and in the moment, they laugh. They’re having fun with one another. If you are mindful, and in the moment, you can enjoy instead of walking around numb. Some actually are able to experience happiness for the first time in years.”

Staff also teach patients interpersonal skills to communicate their wants and needs in a positive way.

“You can learn how to get your needs met without screaming or avoiding conflict because you’ve lost trust in yourself,” said Mullin. “Many of our Veterans think, ‘I can’t talk. I can only scream. I can’t say what I need. I don’t know how to say it.’ So, we teach them how to communicate their needs.”

Many Veterans who complete WISER/

ROVER wonder why they’d never heard of these programs.

“They are just so grateful,” said Mullin. “They wish they had gotten this as they were getting out of the military instead of after they’ve got so much emotional scar tissue to repair.”

“We hear that a lot,” added Brantley. “Why wasn’t I offered this earlier? It’s just a matter of getting the message out there that we’re here to help.”

“ROVER was so much more than I expected,” said Army Veteran Matt Coleman, an Arkansas resident. “Going into it, I was nervous about traveling, living with strangers, and talking about my feelings. It was overwhelming, but you do come out of it feeling lighter. I came home with a better outlook of my future.”

“Among the Veteran population, male Vets ages 18-34 are at high risk for suicide,” said Brantley. “This is the ROVER population. Addressing PTSD within this program means addressing suicidality as well.”

In addition to therapy, Veterans in the program are offered yoga, go on outings like sailing, bowling, steak nights, and a host of other activities.

Those interested in participating in WISER or ROVER must first be followed by an outpatient mental health practitioner. Once that happens, the therapist will determine if they are ready and will put in a consult. The WISER/ROVER social workers will do a screening to determine if the Veteran will be a good candidate.

“They have to get their toes wet in the beginning of the pool because coming here is like being thrown into the middle of the pool,” said Mullin. “It’s that intensive. They need to be ready to talk and show that they’re really interested in getting better, not just give me some pills and leave me alone, but serious about wanting to get better.”

“WISER is an exceptional program that I highly recommend to any female Veteran who is willing to invest in herself and do the hard work necessary to heal from past trauma and move forward in life,” said Delano.

Female Veterans from the WISER program go on a sailing outing as part of their trauma therapy. Photo

by: Tami Schutter

Army Veteran Eugene Christen participates in the Million Veteran Program (MVP) at the Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center. MVP is a genome study that looks at how genetics affect

health. Photo by Todd Goodman

Michael E. DeBakey VAMC 713.791.1414 | 1.800.553.2278Patient Advocate 713.794.7884Returning Service Members 713.794.7034(8825/7928)Veterans Crisis Line 1.800.273.TALK (8255)Caregiver Support Hotline 1.855.260.3274Hotline for Homeless Veterans 1.877.4AID.VETHotline for Women Veterans 1.855.VA.WOMENVA Outpatient ClinicsBeaumont 409.981.8550 | 1.800.833.7734Conroe 936.522.4000 | 1.800.553.2278, ext. 10900Galveston 409.761.3200 | 1.800.553.2278, ext. 11000Katy 281.578.4600Lake Jackson 979.230.4852Lufkin 936.671.4300 | 1.800.209.3120Richmond 832.595.7700 | 1.800.553.2278, ext. 10000Texas City 409.986.2900 | 1.800.553.2278, ext. 10500Tomball 281.516.1505

713.794.8985 1.800.639.5137Services Include:

CLINICAL CONTAC T CENTER AND CENTRALIZED

SCHEDULING

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

- Appointment Scheduling- Community Resources- General Information- Health Education- Medical Advice- Medical Concerns- Mental Health Concerns- Prescription Refills- Suicide Intervention- Symptom Analysis

Visit www.houston.va.gov and sign up to receive news and information by email.

The Million Veteran Program (MVP)

is a national, voluntary research program. MVP is designed to help researchers better understand how genes affect health and illness, with the goal of improving health care for Veterans.How do I participate?

Any Veteran receiving care in the VA health care system can participate. Veterans interested in participating in this program can stop by the lab on the 1st floor, Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.,or call 1-866-441-6075.What will MVP study?

MVP aims to be one of the largest programs on genes and health in the United States. With an expected enrollment of one million Veterans, MVP provides an important opportunity to understand genes and health. An increasingly common way to gain knowledge in this area is to

collect genetic samples and health information from large groups of people. Researchers may use this information to learn how genes, lifestyle, and military experiences affect health and disease.Why is it important to study genes?

Genes carry instructions for building and maintaining our bodies. They determine the color of our eyes and hair, our height, and other personal features.

Small differences in our genes may also explain why some people get diseases and others do not. Having a better understanding of how genes work may help to prevent and improve treatment of disease.How do I find out more about MVP?

Visit www.houston.va.gov/services/MillionVeteranProgram.asp for more information on MVP.

MILLION VETERAN PROGRAM

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