WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Caribbean Healthcare System (VACHS) today was awarded the prestigious Accreditation Council for Graduate Education and Gold Foundation’s DeWitt C. Baldwin, Jr. Award. The award recognizes institutions with accredited residency/fellowship programs that are “exemplary in fostering a respectful, supportive environment for medical education and the delivery of patient care.” The award was presented during a ceremony in National Harbor, MD.
“It is a great honor to receive this award,” said VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald. “We are able to provide top-notch care for our Veterans, in large part, because of our partnerships with organizations like Accreditation Council for Graduate Education. On behalf of our Caribbean Healthcare System and the men and women who care for our Veterans there, we are proud of this recognition.”
For VA, this award comes at a time when it is celebrating the 70th anniversary of its partnership with medical and health professional schools. Since 1946, VA has worked with academic institutions to train new health professionals to meet the rapidly evolving health care needs within VA and the nation. VA is the largest single provider of medical training in the country, where more than 40,000 residents and 20,000 medical students receive clinical training each year. VACHS (formerly known as the San Juan VA Medical Center) has sponsored graduate medical education since 1957 and now sponsors 106 physician resident positions in a variety of medical specialties and sub-specialties. It is one of only three VA facilities nationwide that directly sponsor its own Graduate Medical Education.
“This award proves that VA is an important national contributor to medical education,” said Dr. David Shulkin, VA’s Under Secretary for Health. “The VA healthcare system is a unique national asset for physician workforce development. I am extremely proud of the VA Caribbean Health Care Center for earning this prestigious award.”
Information about the Accreditation Council for Graduate Education and awards may be found here. Information about the VA Caribbean Healthcare System can be found here.
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