Stories | VA Bay Pines Health Care

Since 1938, Americans have gathered on Nov. 11 to celebrate our Veterans for their courage, sacrifice, and selfless devotion to our Nation.

A large group of people sit facing a stage while a speech is given during Bay Pines VA Healthcare System's 2022 Veterans Day Ceremony.

On Oct. 4, officers from Bay Pines VA Healthcare System’s Police Service participated in the 2022 National Night Out which took place at the England Brothers Park in Pinellas County.

Officers from Bay Pines VA Healthcare System’s Police Service interact with members of the local community during the 2022 National Night Out. The event took place at the England Brothers Park in Pinellas County and was hosted by the Pinellas Park Police Department.

Coping with change is an experience that is not unique to Veterans however, the types of changes service members and Veterans endure can be unique in their complexity.

Donald Lowry, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and recipient of care from Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, smiles widely as he poses for a portrait in front of a ortraipt of some sail boats.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is known to many across our country, regardless of whether one served in the military.

On Aug. 30, 2022, Paul M. Russo, Director/CEO of the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System (BPVAHCS), along with fellow members of the Executive Leadership Team, accepted the 75-year Membership Milestone Achievement Award from the American Hospital Association (AHA).

Paul M. Russo, Director/CEO of the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, (far right) stands next to Rebecca Jolley, Regional Executive of the American Hospital Association (AHA), as he and fellow members of the Executive Leadership Team accept an award for 75-years of membership with AHA.

Veterans enrolled for VA health care in Florida, South Georgia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Island may contact the VISN 8 Clinical Contact Center utilizing the VA Health Chat App. The app is available for Android and IOS.

Creative arts are one of the many tools Veterans use to achieve recovery and nothing demonstrates the culmination of those efforts more than the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival (NVCAF), which will be hosted by the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System (BPVAHCS) from April 20-25.

Collage of the art that won some of the Bay Pines VA's Veterans gold medals at the 2022 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival

Bay Pines VA offering COVID-19 vaccination to Veterans 75 years and up, Veterans who are homeless, hemodialysis patients, solid organ transplant patients or patients who are listed for transplant, and chemo patients.