VA Healthcare-VISN 4
VA Healthcare-VISN 4 News Briefs
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News Briefs
Leadership News
Great leaders lead by example – they strive to serve, to teach, and to discover. Please join us in welcoming these leaders to new roles.
This spring, Mr. Vincent Kane was appointed to serve as the director of the Wilmington VA Medical Center. Mr. Kane previously served as associate director and chief operating officer of the Lebanon VA Medical Center, special assistant to the VA Secretary on ending Veteran homelessness, and, most recently, interim associate director at the Wilmington VAMC.
Last fall, Dave DiGiacomo was appointed to serve as the associate director at the Erie VA Medical Center. Prior to this appointment, Mr. DiGiacomo oversaw the compliance and business integrity programs for both VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System and VA Butler Healthcare.
Research News
VISN 4 researchers play an important role in providing high quality care for Veterans and advancing medical science. VA research has a far-reaching impact on treating and preventing disease and disability. Here are some of VISN 4 researchers' recent achievements.
Dr. Rory Cooper and his team at "HERL" have developed an air-powered wheelchair and scooter* that is fully submersible in water. The Human Engineering Research Laboratories* is a collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The team has worked on the air-powered chair, the PneuChair, for about three years. Morgan's Wonderland,* a theme park in San Antonio, Texas, designed especially for people with disabilities, will receive the first 10 wheelchairs manufactured.
Last fall, VISN 4's Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion and the Health Equity and Rural Outreach Innovation Center (based at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, Virginia) co-hosted a field-based meeting to engage diverse stakeholders in advancing health equity in the VA health care system. The meeting, held in Philadelphia, brought together 100 investigators, Veterans and operational partners to identify strategies to improve health and health care for three specific vulnerable populations: racial and ethnic minorities, homeless Veterans, and Veterans from the LGBT community.
Renowned neuropsychologist Gerald "Jerry" Goldstein,* a senior research career scientist and associate director with VISN 4's Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, died April 8. He was 85. Dr. Goldstein was a U.S. Army Veteran and spent 20 years with the Topeka VA Medical Center — where his research helped start VA's first specialized treatment program for alcoholism — before joining VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System in 1975. Dr. Goldstein's work shaped the minds and nurtured the careers of thousands of researchers and health care providers who study and treat behavioral and neurological disorders. His work had a significant impact on the lives of Veterans and others with serious mental illness and neurologic conditions. His contributions to the fields of clinical psychology, clinical neuropsychology and to VA Pittsburgh's research program will have a lasting influence.
Congratulations!
In every organization, events occur that deserve to be recognized and employees are honored who deserve to feel proud. While this is just a small sample of the many recently celebrated events throughout VISN 4, please join us in wishing congratulations to these facilities and employees.
Robert Callahan, director of the Lebanon VA Medical Center, received the Pennsylvania American Legion's 2016 Distinguished Service Award. This was the first time a medical center director has received the award.
Officer Paul Woodland of the Coatesville VA Medical Center Police Department was VA's 2016 Police Officer of the Year for medium-sized VA medical centers. Officer Woodland helped lead a major campus-wide security camera upgrade project; used social media to obtain evidence in a difficult-to-solve theft investigation; developed, maintains and effectively uses an extensive investigative network to assist with complex cases; and developed and presented trainings aimed at helping VA staff recognize and prevent criminal activity.
VISN 4's Wilmington and Erie VA medical centers were recognized for being among the top VA facilities nationally for documenting the largest percentage of employee influenza vaccinations in VA's occupational health record-keeping system. Wilmington achieved 72 percent and Erie achieved 58 percent. Only 27 out of 145 VA facilities achieved 58 percent or higher.
*External link disclaimer: By clicking on these links, you will leave the VA Healthcare-VISN 4 web site. These links are provided for your convenience only. VA Healthcare-VISN 4 does not endorse and is not responsible for the content on any of the linked websites. All links will open a new window (or tab).
