At VA’s Southern Nevada Healthcare System, partnerships with local academic institutions not only improve health care for Veterans but also assure the presence of essential health professionals in nearby communities.
According to a recent Bureau of Health Workforce report, Nevada ranks 45 out of 50 in physicians per capita by state. VA partnerships with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and Touro University of Nevada address these shortages by training residents who now work at local VA facilities—and live in nearby communities.
The VA-UNLV partnership has placed 40 medical residents at Southern Nevada VA, while 13 Touro graduates now work there.
“The feedback from the students has been absolutely positive,” said Dr. Wolfgang Gilliar, Touro’s dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine. “[They] feel it is rigorous, but the good students like rigor. That tells me that this is working.”
Rich learning environment
UNLV graduates feel similarly, according to Dr. Kate Martin, associate dean for graduate medical education at UNLV. “They enjoy the autonomy of getting involved in the decision-making process with significant support from the attending physicians,” said Martin. “They do all of this in a highly rich learning environment, caring for Veterans with often complex medical conditions.”
Martin, who trained with VA as a resident before joining UNLV, remembers what it was like working with Veterans and what left the biggest impact.
“One of the themes that came up often for me in speaking with Veterans was how appreciative they were of the VA health care system,” Martin shared. “I realized that there was something important and special I was a part of there, and I wanted to make sure I was contributing to that.”
VA trains more than 122,000 health professions trainees each year in more than 60 disciplines. VA partners with more than 1,450 academic institutions throughout the nation, making VA’s health professions education program the largest in the United States.
Topics in this story
More Stories
Civil War and early 20th century Veterans faced addiction, underscoring America's first and second opioid crisis.
Practicing self-compassion through VA Whole Health can help Veterans manage stress and find peace during an often-difficult season.
The Tomah VA Medical Center, through the Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE), honored Carl as part of VA’s Centenarian Recognition Program.
How about Reno, potential doctors graduate here work for awhile then leave these medical facilities ago else where to work. It seems to me there is no real incentive to stick around and work here.
If gen. bradly tried so hard to make the VA the place the WWII vet needed to go for care! Please tell me what happened after Korea!my experience of 28 yrs.and 39 days of government service being advised multiple times to stay the “HELL AWAY FROM THE VA”. YES PARTNERING WITH TEACHING HOSPITALS WAS A GREAT INSPIRATION. I am now being treated at the LONG BEACH VA CAMPUS and I am about 75 percent satisfied,but I will say still a long way to go.i am aware the East coast far worse off than the West. Don’t give up keep digging .
VET Retired