Dean Dubinett

Veterans Day honors those who have served our nation. This week we pause to recognize all of the UCLA healthcare professionals who provide care for veterans. Many of our DGSOM faculty, trainees and students are involved in Veteran healthcare.

We’d like to congratulate Donna L. Washington, MD, MPH, on her election to the National Academy of Medicine. Dr. Washington is the director of the Health Equity-QUERI National Partnered Evaluation Center at the Veterans Health Administration. She joins a cadre of distinguished DGSOM physicians who have previously been elected to the Academy.

Our faculty have provided clinical care and education in the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (VAGLAHS), a major UCLA Health affiliate, for more than 70 years. We have 240 faculty in many specialties and more than 640 residents and fellows serving VAGLAHS. Our trainees and students have a unique privilege to help Veterans while learning how to provide compassionate care to a diverse patient population with widely varied needs. The majority of our medical students have the opportunity to train at the VA facilities with learning opportunities in all four years. In our class of 2024, more than 80% of our students rotated at the VA. Many of our faculty are involved in VA supported research, making an impact in discovery and translation for Veteran care. 

We are honoring and serving those who have served us. Together VAGLAHS and DGSOM are continuing their commitment to advancing care for Veterans.