Air Force Veteran Stacy Colussy: “Unbelievable strides in women’s care at VA.”

Air Force Veteran Stacy Colussy has been using VA health care for almost 20 years. She currently receives her primary care at the Michael A. Marzano VA Clinic in Hermitage, PA.

“VA has made unbelievable strides in women’s care,” Colussy said. “There’s a whole section just for women. If I’m coming in for a pap smear, do I have to go in with all these guys? No. They have a whole section that is just for women. It’s more comfortable. They have a lot more benefits and different offerings too, new things they did not have in the past for women’s health.”

Air Force Veteran Stacy Colussy

Two of the programs Colussy has been using recently are the personal trainer program and the women Veterans’ MOVE! Group.

“Personal trainer program is awesome.”

“I can’t say enough about the personal trainer program,” she said. “It’s awesome. I’ve been using that for about a year now and it is wonderful.”

Butler VA’s Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Program offers Veterans the opportunity to work one-on-one with a personal trainer in its Wellness Center at the Abie Abraham VA Health Care Center or virtually.

MOVE! is a weight management and health promotion program designed to improve the lives of Veterans. MOVE!’s core ideas – encouraging healthy eating behavior, increasing physical activity and promoting even small weight losses – are easy to follow and based on the latest in nutrition science.

Colussy currently participates in an evening MOVE! class (via video) with other women Veterans.

“As soon as you get out, apply!”

“I think a lot of people don’t realize there are a bunch of different MOVE! groups,” she added. “The first one I was in was a bad fit for me. But the one I’m in now is a perfect fit. There is no issue with trying different ones.”

With both the personal trainer and MOVE!, Colussy has noticed great results for herself. “It’s easier to make good food choices,” she said. “And the exercise has been great. I have MS, so having it tailored to me and what I can do makes it very easy. I feel stronger.”

One final thing Colussy wants to impress upon other Veterans: As soon as you get out, apply. “People need to apply for VA care as soon as they get out of the military,” she said. “Even if they don’t need it, all that paperwork is done then and it doesn’t have a chance to get lost.”