VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

09/10/2025

Do you or your family need dental, eye or hearing care that is not covered by insurance or VA health care? Mark your calendars for Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh’s free clinic Oct. 24-25 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

Doors open at 6 a.m. Clinic begins at 7 a.m. Door closes when capacity reached.

No eligibility requirements or insurance needed — ages 2 +.

• Dental services include X-rays, cleanings, fillings, select root canals and limited extractions. (No bridges, crowns or full dentures.)
• Hearing services include hearing evaluations; free hearing aids; hearing aid fittings, troubleshooting and repair; and hearing protection.
• Vision services include visual acuity screenings, glasses prescriptions and free glasses.

Walk in only. First come, first served.

Learn more at mompgh.org.

Information provided as a courtesy. VA Pittsburgh is not responsible for the care provided at this clinic.

09/10/2025

World Su***de Prevention Day calls us to stand together and support one another. Veterans carry experiences that can feel heavy, but no one has to face them alone.

Resources and support are always available: https://www.va.gov/REACH

Today, and every day, let’s reach out and remind each other that a hopeful tomorrow is within reach.

09/09/2025

09/08/2025

Do you have chronic pain that affects your sleep, general activity and quality of life? If so, we can help! We are now enrolling for our transdisciplinary tele pain program.
✅ Connect with pain specialists in the comfort of your own home
✅ Learn tools to manage chronic pain
✅ Improve quality of life
✅ CARF-accredited to ensure quality, person-centered care, safety, and results
Call 855-679-0952 and select option 2 to get more information and enroll in the tele pain program. We look forward to supporting you on your journey to better pain management!

09/08/2025

Meet Jeff Sears, maintenance supervisor, Facilities Management Service, on our University Drive campus.

Q. Are you (or a family member) a Veteran?
A. Yes, I currently have 17 combined years of service. The first nine years were in the Marine Corps Reserve as a military policeman (MP) with a tour in Afghanistan in 2011. I am currently an MP sergeant in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. My activations include Gitmo in 2021 and the 2025 presidential inauguration.

Q. Tell us a little about your job at VA Pittsburgh.
A. I am a maintenance and repair supervisor, providing oversite of five different trades: painters, electricians, carpenters, equipment mechanics and the locksmith.

Q. Why did you want to work at VA, and how long have you been at VA Pittsburgh?
A. After working my way up in facilities management from industrial equipment mechanic to assistant director at a large local retirement community, in 2019 I was given the opportunity to give back to my fellow service men and women and came to VAPHS.

Q. What is your favorite part of your job at VA Pittsburgh?
A. Being able to make the facility the best it can be to better serve our patients, and we have a lot of very talented tradesmen that work on our team.

Q. What is one thing that Veterans should know about VA that most don’t?
A. Don’t believe all the stories about how hard it is to get to an appointment. Personally, I have never had to wait for an appointment.

Q. Where are you from originally?
A. I was born in Pittsburgh, raised in Shaler and now live in Mars.

Q. When you are not at work, what would we most likely find you doing?
A. I have been blessed with four children (three boys and one girl). They keep me busy with our horses and 4H activities.

Q. What is your favorite or dream vacation?
A. My dream vacation would be anywhere with a cabin in the woods and a lake nearby. I enjoy fishing for bass and trout.

09/08/2025

Taking care of your mental health is just as important now as when you first transitioned out of the military.
Explore mental health support options for older Veterans: MentalHealth.va.gov/older-veterans/index.asp

09/07/2025

Veterans and staff recently volunteered to receive wellness acupuncture and acupressure treatments on our H.J. Heinz III campus to help train providers.

Nineteen providers from VISNs 4 and 10 visited the Heinz campus for the two-day, walk-in event. They provided 241 treatments as part of their training in the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association’s (NADA) Ear Acupuncture Protocol.

NADA Protocol is used to help bring relief with anxiety/depression, PTSD, insomnia, pain, substance use, to***co cessation and stress.

Veterans enrolled with us for health care who are interested in acupuncture should ask their P*P for a referral or call 412-822-2119.

09/06/2025

If you’re aiming to cut back on or quit drinking, the VetChange app can help. Use the Drink Log to track habits, work through urges with coping exercises, and explore strategies to manage triggers and stay motivated. https://mobile.va.gov/app/vetchange

09/06/2025

It’s important to recognize signs of crisis in yourself and others. You can act to help prevent self-harm and su***de by exploring resources for Veterans at https://www.prevention.va.gov/Healthy_Living/Be_Safe_Prevent_Self_Harm.asp.

You can also find more information in the Veterans Health Library at https://www.veteranshealthlibrary.va.gov/Search/142,HLM011_VA.

09/05/2025

Veterans: you will no longer be able to use DS Logon to sign in to VA websites and apps after September 30. Set up a Login.gov or ID.me account to stay connected.

If you need help creating a Login.gov or ID.me account, contact Carlos Sanchez, our My HealtheVet coordinator, at 412-360-6838.

You can also find tips on how to create an account at https://www.myhealth.va.gov/ss20241209-tips-creating-login-gov-id-me-account

09/05/2025

Stress adds up. Don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed. The Veterans Self-Check Assessment is a free, confidential tool to help you keep tabs on your well-being: vetselfcheck.org.

09/05/2025

Belmont County Veterans – stop by our Veterans Town Hall and Resource Fair from 1-4 p.m. today, Sept. 5, in the community room at the Ohio Valley Mall.

Hear from VA leadership and learn about programs and benefits for you, families and caregivers. You can even apply to enroll in VA health care: just bring a copy of your DD-214 and have information on your household income. Some Veterans who applied previously might be newly eligible under the PACT Act.

Learn more about today’s event at https://www.va.gov/pittsburgh-health-care/events/82344/.