Recognizing Tennessee Valley During National Research Week
National Veteran Affairs Research Week is an annual observance to recognize and celebrate researchers’ contributions to both the Veteran community and the health science community as a whole
Recognized from May 13 – 17, 2024, this year’s theme of research week is “Building Community Through Research,” a testament to the impact VA research has on Veterans, families, and our community.
On May 13, 2024, VA Secretary Denis McDonough recognized five exceptional VA investigators. Two of the researchers who were recognized were Dr. Alvin Powers and Dr. Wes Ely from VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS).
VA researchers make up innovative teams that have historically developed effective treatments for illnesses like tuberculosis, invented the CAT scan and the pacemaker, and performed the first-ever liver transplant. More recently research investigators have been critical in supporting the PACT Act, Women's Health, Telehealth, suicide prevention, the President’s Cancer Moonshot, and much more.
In honor of the observance, please watch the attached videos to gain some insight into TVHS research and our investigators.
Dr. Bradley Richmond, TVHS pulmonologist and physician scientist and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) assistant professor, studies the lung and is currently researching deployment-related respiratory disease, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan service Veterans. With this research, Richmond has a focus on long-term outcomes, mechanisms of disease, and non-invasive diagnosis.
Dr. Tracy Frech, TVHS Rheumatologist and VUMC associate professor, researches systemic sclerosis, also known as scleroderma, an autoimmune disease that hardens and tightens the skin. More specifically, Frech examines why blood vessels do not work in scleroderma. VA Dermatologist and VUMC assistant professor, Dr. Eric Tkaczyk, researches ways to measure the skin, including the utilization of artificial intelligence to measure various rashes. Both doctors are currently working together to combine their skills to aid Veterans suffering from the autoimmune disease.
Please visit Office of Research & Development (va.gov) for more information on research and development at VA. Visit Research | VA Tennessee Valley Health Care | Veterans Affairs to learn more about TVHS research programs and services.