Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA) is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion as we train America’s future health professionals. Working with our academic partners, we develop strategic initiatives designed to reflect the diversity of the Veteran population we serve. OAA seeks to prepare a diverse, culturally attuned health care workforce pipeline focused on advancing excellence and engagement.
2021 Minority Summit: The Power of Collaboration with VA
On June 9, 2021, over 500 participants joined the 2021 Minority Summit: The Power of Collaborating with VA. Hosted by OAA, the virtual program included discussions on how to increase VA’s academic affiliations with Minority-Serving Institutions to strengthen and expand its relationships with minority-serving colleges, universities and medical schools, and professional organizations. Explore the following resources to learn about the summit:
- Full video of program
- Video of Academic Affiliations Panel
- Video of Research Panel
- Video of Scholarships Panel
- VA’s official press release, VA seeks increase in academic relationships with minority-serving institutions to expand health professions training
Other Current Initiatives
- Establishing more partnership affiliations with Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Teague-Cranston institutions to broaden diversity among VA Health Professions Trainees (HPTs) across VA’s 1,000 sites of care
- Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (VACAA) Graduate Medical Education (GME) expansion that authorizes 1,500 new physician training positions in the areas and specialties where they are most needed
- Rural Interprofessional Faculty Development Initiative (RIFDI), which expands health professions education in rural areas to develop a highly qualified health care workforce prepared to meet the needs of rural Veterans
- National Academic Affiliations Council (NAAC) Diversity in the Healthcare Workforce Subcommittee, which advises the NAAC on best practices for promoting diversity in the HPT workforce and on educational relationships with MSIs
- MISSION Act, Section 304 established scholarships for Veteran medical students in the Teague-Cranston and Historically Black College and University medical schools
Learn More
- Read related VAntage Point blog, VA’s Academic Affiliations Increase Health Care Workforce Diversity Empowering Vulnerable Communities to Become #VaccineReady
- Read related VAntage Point blog, Army Veteran awarded VA medical school scholarship “Veterans Healing Veterans” to shape diverse workforce
- Find out more about VA’s academic mission by watching this video
For More Information
For inquiries about the 2021 Minority Summit, email OAAComms@va.gov.
