Skip to Content

Stories

Read about what's happening in our VA Augusta health care community.

Free emergency suicide care at VA Augusta and in the community

Important COMPACT Act-related information: Emergency Suicide Care and Treatment Options

Virtual Town Hall: Veterans and the public are invited to a virtual Town Hall to learn more about this life-saving VA benefit on Monday, October 30, at 10 a.m.

VA Augusta frontline staff selected for national VA innovation program

VA Augusta Health Care System announced today the selection of 11 frontline staff for the FY24 VHA Innovators Network Spark-Seed-Spread program. This initiative fosters innovation and empowers frontline staff to fundamentally change the culture within the Veterans Health Administration.

VHA Innovators Logo Spark Seed Spread

Two VA Augusta Veterans bond over bandwidth

Ronald Williams, a VA Augusta outpatient Veteran stops by regularly to talk with his buddy, Mr. G, who resides in the Community Living Center (CLC) at Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia.

Two Veterans get to know each other during a therapeutic Vet2Vet teleconferencing session. The sessions are designed to decrease social isolation which may cause increased anxiety, stress and loneliness among Veterans.

VA Augusta first VA in country to use innovative tech to reduce chronic pain

VA Augusta Health Care System is the first VA in the country to use Axon Therapy, which uses a high-powered, non-invasive device to target peripheral nerve stimulation to reduce chronic pain in Veterans.

Dr. Marshall Bedder prepares to use the Axon device.

VA Augusta is relaxing some masking requirements

Effective immediately, VA Augusta Health Care System is relaxing some masking requirements for Veterans, visitors, volunteers, and staff.

Mask policy graphic

VA Augusta inventor presents fall-prevention device to senior health advocates from across Georgia

Today, a VA Augusta Health Care System inventor who's developed a device to help prevent falls shared her innovation with organizations who advocate for aging populations across Georgia.

Ebony Dillard (left) and Kelsey Shull from VA Augusta Health Care System, present a VA innovation that helps prevent falls among Veterans with lower-limb weakness to representatives who advocate for Georgia’s aging population.

Keep the memory alive, keep the trooper alive

National Vietnam War Veterans Day holds no significance for Patrick Jones. What he does care about is his band of brothers. “We never talk about what we did over there,” Jones said. “We talk about the fun things we did… the things we got away with when we shouldn’t have, but it sure was fun.”

Pictured (Left-Right): Robby McPhail, Scott Alexander, Pat Jones, John Clark, Ken Cook, and Larry Humphries

Transgender guardsman born for military service

Growing up in the South with sticks, stones, and war games, one local service member knew he wanted to be in the military, even before he knew he was meant to be a man.

Mak Vaden

Leader leaves lasting legacy

Timothy McCarthy looked forward to being in the service. In fact, he volunteered to enlist right after high school, but was told his knees and eyesight would hold him back. But then came the looming conflict in Vietnam.

Past and Present of Tim McCarthy's life

VA Augusta physician conducts swift-water rescue, saving young boy’s life

Dr. Vasu Lakkimsetti was eager to take up some cycling with his son on the trails around Augusta, Georgia. A geriatrician at Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Lakkimsetti purchased two new bikes, only to watch them sit dormant as he waited for winter temperatures and his busy schedule to clear.

Dr. Vasu Lakkimsetti, geriatrician at Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center