Close to Home, Closer to Healing: VA’s “Close to Me” Program Expands Cancer Care in Viera
By Joseph Nunez, Public Affairs Specialist
For Gary Cherry, a Vietnam-era Air Force pilot who flew more than 100 missions over North Vietnam, the journey to better health has often been long and difficult. Today, thanks to a new program at the Orlando VA Healthcare System (OVAHCS), that journey is measured in minutes instead of miles.
Cherry, who now lives in Viera, is among the first Veterans to receive cancer treatment through the VA’s “Close to Me” program at the Viera VA Clinic, an initiative designed to bring life-saving care closer to where Veterans live.
“I’m just thrilled with the healthcare I’m getting at the VA,” Cherry expressed. “Everybody that I’ve encountered here, the nurses, the techs, the doctors, have been exceptional. I have nothing bad to say about anything.”
The Close to Me program, launched through the VA’s National Oncology Program Office, allows Veterans to receive anti-cancer treatments, including immunotherapy and infusion services, at outpatient clinics rather than traveling to larger medical centers like Lake Nona.
“Close to Me is a program that provides anti-cancer therapy and infusions at outpatient clinics closer to home,” said Dr. Kathleen Schuster, Associate Chief of Staff. “The goal is to improve the treatment experience by reducing the burden of travel while delivering up-to-date, high-quality care.”
With $4.5 million in funding over three years, the program has been implemented at the Viera clinic, with plans to expand to additional locations, including Daytona Beach. The initiative represents a significant step forward in improving access to specialty care for Veterans across Central Florida.
Before the program, Veterans in Brevard County often traveled to the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona for treatment, a trip that could take hours and add stress to an already exhausting process.
“Anti-cancer treatment can be quite draining,” Dr. Schuster said. “Not only the treatment itself, but the transportation back and forth. This program allows our patients to get care closer to home and improve their overall experience.”
For Cherry, who has battled multiple cancers linked to Agent Orange exposure, the impact has been profound. After receiving initial treatments in Lake Nona, he was able to continue care just minutes from his home.
“It just meant I didn’t have to dedicate a long drive in the day,” he said. “I can get it done and come home, and I’m good to go the rest of the day.”
From a clinical standpoint, bringing these services to Viera has been transformative for both patients and staff.
“It means that Veterans don’t have to drive far to get care,” stated Dr. Brandan Wormsbacher, Chief Medical Officer at the Viera VA Clinic. “We’re bringing care to their neighborhood. When you think about weekly infusions that can take hours, that’s a full-day commitment. Being able to offer that close to home is a win for our patients.”
Dr. Wormsbacher also emphasized the importance of familiarity and trust in the care experience.
“They’re seeing the same staff they already know,” Dr. Wormsbacher mentioned. “They know where to go, they know the environment, it’s comfortable. That matters when you’re going through something as serious as cancer treatment.”
The program’s success is the result of collaboration across multiple departments, including nursing, pharmacy, logistics, and facility management, all working together to ensure safe and sustainable care delivery.
“It means we were able to give back to those who gave for us,” Dr. Schuster said. “That’s why we’re here.”
As the program continues to grow, leaders see it as a gateway to expanding specialty care even further, including diagnostics and additional treatments at community-based clinics.
For Veterans like Cherry, the impact is already clear, not just in convenience, but in quality of life.
“I’m over the top happy,” Cherry expressed. “That’s as good as I feel. I’m just very, very happy with the services I receive.”
And for those Veterans still unsure about seeking care, Cherry has a message:
“I’d tell them to give the VA a chance,” he said. “It’s not what it used to be. They’ll take care of you.”
To stay informed, please visit: VA Orlando Health Care | Veterans Affairs, subscribe to receive email updates by clicking here, like us on Facebook at: @OVAHCS, follow us on Instagram at: @OVAHCS or on Twitter at: @OVAHCS.
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Established in October 2006, the Orlando VA Healthcare System (OVAHCS) was designated a 1a facility (most complex) in 2021, with more than 5,660 employees and an annual budget of $1.5B, and serves more than 131,000 Veterans in Central Florida. The Orlando VA Medical Center at Lake Nona provides outpatient, inpatient, and emergency services. Lake Nona’s 65-acre medical campus encompasses 134 acute inpatient beds, providing complex Medical/Surgical/Mental Health specialty care, advanced diagnostic services, and a large multispecialty outpatient clinic, as well as a 120-bed Community Living Center, two Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs/Domiciliaries (60-beds located at the Lake Nona Campus and 58-beds at the Lake Baldwin Campus). Outpatient services are provided at a Health Care Center in Viera, a Multispecialty Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Daytona Beach, and five Community-Based Outpatient Clinics located in Clermont, Lake Baldwin, Kissimmee, Deltona, Palm Bay and Tavares.