San Francisco VA Health Care System is the best place for healing and hope
During the week of May 11-15, 2026, SFVAHCS proudly stood at the forefront of National VA Research Week, showcasing why it is the unparalleled leader in Veteran health care innovation.
As the largest competitively funded research program in the entire VA system, San Francisco VA Health Care System embodies this year’s theme, “Launching into the Future of Veterans’ Care.”
While marking a second century of VA research achievements, San Francisco VA’s Research and Development Service continues to build on its strong foundation of clinical and research excellence, making it the ideal home for groundbreaking mental health treatments.
Research Week highlighted advances in PTSD, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, and more. But when it comes to the future of mental health care, psychedelic-assisted therapy, SFVAHCS stands alone as the best place for not only research but also care. With recognized centers of excellence in PTSD, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, and primary care education, SFVAHCS possesses the unmatched research expertise, clinical infrastructure, academic partnerships, and institutional commitment needed to safely and effectively expand psychedelic therapies for Veterans.
“San Francisco VA has the longest track record of any VA system in psychedelic medicine research,” said Dr. Jennifer Mitchell, Deputy Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development who led two multi-site phase 3 trials demonstrating that MDMA-assisted therapy significantly reduces PTSD severity. “Currently, we have 5 active principal investigators engaged in clinical psychedelic research and organizationally, our expertise in all 3 FDA Breakthrough Therapy-designated compounds—MDMA, psilocybin, and LSD—is truly without equal. We are very proud of the work we’re doing and will continue to do.”
As federal approvals for these therapies advance, SFVAHCS is uniquely positioned to remain the tip of the spear for research of these novel therapies. With over a decade of sustained investment, multi-site trial experience, and rigorous data collection capabilities make it the ideal hub for developing “train the trainer” educational programs that can rapidly expand access to care across the entire VA system.
“The future of Veteran care begins here at San Francisco VA, where we integrate provider training with rigorous implementation science to build evidence-based curricula, offer on-site and remote training for VA providers nationwide, and lead the way in system-wide adoption of novel therapies,” added Dr. Mitchell.
For Veterans seeking the most advanced, compassionate, and scientifically rigorous therapy care and research, San Francisco VA Health Care System is not just an option, it is the best place for healing and hope.
VA strongly discourages self-medicating or attempting to replace other mental health treatment options with psychedelics or any other unprescribed substances.