VA Portland Health Care System serves more than 95,000 Veterans a year across most of Oregon and SW
07/08/2025
July's them for Whole Health month is the power of the mind and mindful awareness. Mindful awareness is an important part of the Circle of Health. Learning and practicing mindful awareness helps Veterans live healthier, fuller lives.
· Your mind affects your body, and your body affects your mind.
· Your thoughts are powerful, and you can use them to heal and cope.
· Mindful awareness is an important part of the Circle of Health. Learning and practicing mindful awareness helps us live healthier, fuller lives.
Independence Day, known colloquially as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States which commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America.
The Founding Father delegates of the Second Continental Congress declared that the Thirteen Colonies were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain, King George III, and were now united, free, and independent states. The Congress voted to approve independence by passing the Lee Resolution on July 2 and adopted the Declaration of Independence two days later, on July 4.
To find out more about the history of the Fourth of July and how it is celebrated around the country, visit
Learn about the traditions of Independence Day celebrations.
07/02/2025
The theme for July whole health communications is the power of the mind and mindful awareness. Mindful awareness is an important part of the Circle of Health. Learning and practicing mindful awareness helps Veterans live healthier, fuller lives.
· Your mind affects your body, and your body affects your mind.
· Your thoughts are powerful, and you can use them to heal and cope.
· Mindful awareness is an important part of the Circle of Health. Learning and practicing mindful awareness helps us live healthier, fuller lives.
If you or a loved one are experiencing a crisis, get immediate help by calling 988 if you need to speak to a trained crisis counselor who can help with mental health-related distress. Or visit https://www.ptsd.va.gov/gethelp/crisis_help.asp
06/26/2025
For today's Throwback Thursday, we take a look at the Portland VA Hospital campus shortly after the first fifteen buildings were completed and dedicated in 1929. The land was donated in 1926 by the Oregon Medical School. The Oregon Medical School in turn had received the land from Mrs. C. S. Jackson, who gave to them the entire Marquam Hill property.
Oregon Health and Sciences University Hospital, (OHSU), originally the Medical School Hospital, was built in 1956 on Marquam Hill, adjacent to the Portland VA Hospital (to the right side of this photo). Construction of the 14-story structure began in 1953. Doernbecher Children's Hospital, which was initially a separate free-standing building, also moved to Marquam Hill and became part of the OHSU Hospital.
Photo is restored and printed by Old Oregon. Original photo courtesy of City of Portland Archives.
06/24/2025
***JOIN US!***
The Healing Workgroup and Clinician Well-Being Committee would like to invite all employees and Veterans to the VA Portland Well-Bell-Being Fair on Tuesday, July 8th, 10am-2pm, at the VA Portland Auditorium!
06/19/2025
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, is a celebration marking the end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth, or “Freedom Day” is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.
This holiday is considered the “longest running African-American holiday” and has been called “America’s second Independence Day.” It was on June 19, 1865, that Union soldiers, led by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, landed in Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that all slaves were free.
On June 15, 2021, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved the bill that makes Juneteenth a legal public holiday. On June 17, 2021, President Biden signed into law Senate Bill 475 (S. 475) making “Juneteenth” a federal holiday. Because June 19 fell on a Saturday in 2021, the day was observed on Friday, June 18, 2021.
Ms. Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” was instrumental in having this day made a holiday.
To learn more about this observance, visit the Society for Public Health Education, or SOPHE, at
SOPHE's director writes a compelling blog hhighlighting Juneteenth aka Freedom Day - the oldest commemoration of the end of slavery in the US
06/18/2025
June 27 is PTSD Screening Day. If you’ve been struggling since experiencing a trauma, take a 5-question self-screen to determine if your feelings are related to PTSD: www.ptsd.va.gov/screen
Here are some self-help tools that help you learn about PTSD, track your symptoms, and offer some tools to cope:
If you would like to start your journey of healing, please reach out to your primary care provider to discuss your options for care. They can connect you with the mental health clinic.
06/17/2025
On June 16, 2025, the Post 9/11 M2VA team went to Salem to attend the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs Veteran Benefit Expo at the Salem Armory Auditorium.
This event provided a one-stop shop for Oregon Veterans to learn about and access the full range of their earned benefits and local resources.
More than 650 veteran’s and their families attended the event. A big shout out goes to Travis Gardner, Transition Patient Advocate (pictured above) and Brenda Lee Anderson, LCSW case manager, for representing the M2VA team.
If you want to learn more about the Post 9/11 M2VA case management program, please call 503-273-5075.
06/17/2025
Do you know if you have PTSD?
June is PTSD Awareness Month. There is a simple 5-question test that will help you determine if you have PTSD. Go to https://www.ptsd.va.gov/apps/decisionaid/ to learn more.
06/14/2025
Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the official U.S. flag on June 14, 1777, by the Second Continental Congress. While the idea of a day to honor the flag originated earlier, with some towns celebrating in 1861 and 1885, Flag Day became a national observance through presidential proclamations and a congressional act. President Woodrow Wilson first declared June 14 as National Flag Day in 1916. Later, President Harry S. Truman signed an act of Congress in 1949 officially recognizing the holiday.
06/11/2025
There are a number of upcoming workshops offered at the VA Portland's Vancouver campus, in the Community Living Center (CLC), building #1.
Paper Making: May 18, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and May 19, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Acrylic Painting: June 15, 22 and 29
Glass on Glass Mosaic: July 20
Creative Writing and Poetry: August 4 and 17
For more information, including times and locations, email Meredith McMackin: meredith.mcmackin@va.gov, or call 360-696-4061, ext. 33375
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In November 1921 a hospital for Veterans was opened by the United States Public Health Service in Portland, Oregon.
On May 1, 1922 it was transferred from the Public Health Service to the United States Veterans’ Bureau.
The land for the Portland Campus was donated in 1926 by the regents of the Oregon Health & Science University Hospital after they received the entire Marquam Hill property from Mrs. C.S. Jackson.
The first 15 buildings were completed and dedicated in 1929.
In 1932 the New Administration building was built.
In 1935 building 4 was renovated.
13 temporary (Quonset huts) were added from 1946-48.
In 1948 the Veterans Administration launched a $3 million hospital addition on Marquam Hill in Sam Jackson Park for a seven-story 155 bed tuberculosis hospital. The tuberculosis Hospital, Building 25, was completed in 1949.
In 1955 the Oregon VA Hospitals went through modernization.
The Construction of the U.S. Army Hospital by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was completed in 1940.
The hospital was dedicated and named after General Joseph K. Barnes, MD, Surgeon General in 1941.
Barnes General Hospital opened and the first patient was admitted in 1941.
In 1945 Twenty-Three German Prisoner’s of War (POWs) were transferred to the Barnes General Hospital as a labor battalion.
In 1946 Barnes General Hospital was reduced from 1502 to 100 beds, and the staff was cut from 1056 to 126 staff members. The name was changed to the Vancouver Barracks Station Hospital, as ownership was transferred to the Veterans Administration; opening the doors on August 1, 1946 in Vancouver, Washington.
In 1957 the Vancouver Hospital was separated from the Portland VA Hospital
