Coatesville VA marks 40 years of improving health of local veterans

COATESVILLE » The Coatesville VA Medical Center announced this week as part of its 75th anniversary commemoration of academic affiliations that it has trained thousands of health professionals in collaboration with many outstanding academic affiliates including Villanova, Eastern, West Chester, Millersville, Immaculata, Temple, and Drexel Universities and the State of Delaware’s Health and Social Services Division.

Coatesville VAMC began partnering with Delaware Psychiatric Center and Drexel University Medical School, primarily in the field of psychiatry, in 2010. That expanded to include Temple University Health psychiatry residency in 2020 and Tower University/Chestnut Hill Hospital this year for Primary Care. These future professionals are the nation’s health care workforce pipeline who will go on to care for Veterans and other patients in urban and rural communities across the U.S. as mental health and primary care professionals.

The commemoration is part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) overall 75th anniversary celebration of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) occurring throughout 2021.

“It is an honor to be a part of positive advancements and cutting-edge efforts serving those who served our nation. Coatesville VAMC takes pride in its academic partnership and achievements especially during the past 11 years,” said Dr. Eugene Goldman, Associate Chief of Staff for Education. “We look forward to continuing our partnerships that benefit us all with the passion to learn and power to heal.”

During the pandemic, VA has worked with medical schools and programs across the country to utilize health professions trainees to care for Veterans virtually and in-person while completing their training requirements. The number of physician residents training in VA over the past year increased by more than 2,000 and, according to the American Association of Medical Colleges, applications to medical schools have increased by 18% for the upcoming 2021 academic year.

Coatesville VAMC’s recent and continuing participation demonstrates the unique benefits our partnerships provide for our Veterans and communities.

VA’s academic mission began in 1946 with the adoption of Policy Memorandum No. 2, establishing a remarkable partnership between VA and its academic affiliates. Seventy-five years later, VA provides training to nearly 70% of all U.S. physicians. Approximately 120,000 health professions trainees help care for more than 9 million Veterans at clinical sites around the country.

Affiliated with more than 1,800 academic institutions including 97% of America’s medical schools, VA trains future health professionals in over 40 disciplines including physicians, psychologists, nurses, pharmacists and social workers.

SUBMITTED PHOTO This photo shows an aerial view of the Coatesville VA Medical Center. The center is commemorating 75 years of the Veterans Health Administration.