About Office of Academic Affiliations
Mission
As one of four statutory missions, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) conducts an education and training program for health professions students and residents to enhance the quality of care provided to veteran patients within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) healthcare system. More
Our Training Programs
VA's physician education program is conducted in collaboration with 135 of 144 allopathic medical schools and 30 of 33 osteopathic medical schools.
Through affiliations with individual health professions schools and colleges, clinical traineeships and fellowships are provided to students in more than 40 health professions.
The VA Advanced Fellowships Program offers post-residency fellowships to physicians and dentists in emerging health professions of particular importance to VA and the nation.
VA partners with the country's finest nursing schools to provide compassionate, highly educated nurses to look after the health care needs of our nation's veterans.
VA Centers of Excellence (CoE)
Five VA Medical Centers were selected as VA Centers of Excellence in Primary Care Education (CoEPCE). Under the program, trainees will begin their rotations to VA Medical Centers in July, 2011. Their training programs and activities will emphasize VA’s new program of team based care featuring Patient-Aligned Care Teams (PACT).
Of Special Interest
Report of the Blue Ribbon Panel on
VA-Medical School Affiliations
The Federal Advisory Committee on Veterans Affairs Medical School Affiliations advised the Secretary, through the Under Secretary for Health, on issues related to a comprehensive philosophical framework to enhance VA's partnerships with medical schools and affiliated institutions. More
The Worthen Award may be given annually to a VHA employee from any health care discipline in recognition of contributions they have made that are of national significance to education in the health professions.
Governance & Future Planning
OAA oversees the policies governing all clinical training programs, clinical trainees and residents, as well as the educational relationships VA has with medical schools, universities and colleges in support of VA's clinical training programs.
VA partners with medical schools, universities and colleges to provide training programs at VA facilities. Before a training program can be established, an Afiliation Agreement must be made between VA and the educational institution.
To further VA's commitment to quality medical education, we will solicit Request for Proposals from our facilities and educational partners on topics of critical importance to VA's training programs.
National Academic Affiliations Council
The new 14-member VA advisory committee will advise the Secretary and the Under Secretary for Health on ways to further enhance what has become the largest public-private partnership in VA’s history and a cornerstone of American health professions education.
