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BEDFORD , MA — This week, VA Bedford Healthcare System celebrates VA Health Professions Education Week 2023, along with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, recognizing the contributions

of VA faculty and partners. VA’s health professions education programs enhance the quality of and timely access to care provided to Veterans at VA. Overseen by the Office of Academic

Affiliations (OAA), health professions trainees (HPTs) participate in over 7,000 wide-ranging training programs offered at 150 VA health care facilities, making VA the nation’s largest

provider of health professions training. Health professions education in VA is conducted through long-standing partnerships with 1,400 U.S. academic institutions, including 99% of the

nation’s medical schools. Academic affiliations play a vital role in meeting Veteran health care needs at VA Bedford. This spring, the medical center begins its new Mental Health Nurse

Practitioner Residency program, providing advanced training to develop NPs equipped with the knowledge and skills to successfully practice in VA’s inter-professional team environment. VA

Bedford health care began partnering with colleges, universities and medical schools in the early 2000s. The facility trains approximately 400 HPTs every year in a variety of disciplines and

has a close partnership with the Harvard Macy Institute Program for Educators to support the highest level of training provided by VA clinician educators. “VA Bedford is proud to celebrate

HPE Week. We want to take the opportunity to recognize and thank our dedicated health professions trainees, educators, our academic affiliates and most of all, our Veterans who actively

engage in VA’s training mission,” said Joan Clifford, DNP Medical Facility Director. “Our trainees and students often tell us the greatest reward of training at VA is serving Veterans and

bringing the abilities they acquired here into their careers across the Nation.” Offering training in more than 60 clinical disciplines, VA educates physicians, nurses, social workers,

psychologists, physical and occupational therapists in the latest evidence-based medicine. Over 15,000 of VA’s HPTs come from Minority Serving Institutions, such as Hispanic Serving

Institutions (HSIs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). HPTs support VA’s ability to deliver and sustain high-quality patient care to Veterans. “OAA is honored to

highlight the invaluable contributions our health professions trainees make every day in providing care to our Veterans,” said Marjorie Bowman, MD, MPA, Chief Academic Affiliations Officer.

“VA is fortunate to have more than 1,400 academic affiliates who share our theme: passion to learn, power to heal. The academic affiliation partnership model is vital to training future

health professionals who care for our Veterans and the Nation.” Learn more about VA’s Health Professions Education Week and VA’s health professions training programs by visiting the OAA

website or by watching this brief introductory video.