VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

12/23/2025

Our VA police officers joined area officers with the Allegheny County Communities and Police Together recently to deliver toys to children at UPMC Children’s Hospital and The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh. Officers also visited Veterans at the Southwestern Veterans' Center, where they helped to decorate a tree with patches from each department.

Allegheny County Communities and Police Together is a group of officers from departments across the county who work together, often volunteering, to provide services and programs to communities and individuals.

12/23/2025

12/23/2025

Each holiday season, the nonprofit Luke’s Wings provides emergency travel planning and airline tickets for wounded, ill and injured Veterans in recovery and rehabilitation, to help families be together during the holidays. Learn more at

To request military flight travel, review the eligibility requirements and apply online. We are honored to serve our military community.

12/22/2025

12/22/2025

Happy 100th birthday, Regis!

Shoutout to all who sent birthday cards for WWII Navy Veteran Regis Myszewski, who turned 100 this month! Regis served as a mid-deck gunner aboard the USS Missouri, operating machine guns amid the thunderous fire of heavy artillery both above and below his position.

He is shown here accepting the cards recently at his Polish Hill home.

In addition to the cards, we presented Regis with a certificate from VA Secretary Doug Collins honoring him on his 100th birthday and thanking him for his service. The certificate is through VA's Centenarian Recognition Program, a national initiative that celebrates enrolled Veterans who have reached or are approaching 100 years of age.

To nominate a Veteran enrolled with VA Pittsburgh for a certificate who is 100+ years old (or nearly 100 but facing end of life), email vaphs100@va.gov.

12/21/2025

VA researchers at HERL have received a $41.4 million grant to develop a wheelchair that will combine advanced robotics, artificial intelligence, a new operating system and digital simulation technology to create a cutting-edge powered wheelchair.

Learn more at https://www.research.va.gov/currents/1225-VA-researchers-at-HERL-to-develop-cutting-edge-robotic-wheelchair.cfm.

HERL is a joint research institute between VA Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh.

12/21/2025

"The pharmacist who responded to my phone calls and secure messaging went out of their way to help me with a confusing web of community care requirements…I really appreciate their compassion and willingness to go out of their way to help me get my prescription." -- Veteran's comment on care received at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.

Are you a Veteran who is not enrolled in VA health care? To find out if you are eligible to enroll in VA health care:
• Call VA toll-free at 877-222-8387, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Apply online at https://www.va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply/
• Download the mailable VA Form 10-10EZ at https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-10-10ez/. Send the completed 10-10EZ with a copy of your DD214 to VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Attn: Patient Registration, University Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15240.

12/20/2025

Football tailgating season can be the perfect opportunity to try new healthy recipes with friends, including this home style hummus! For additional recipe ideas, Veterans enrolled with us for health care can call 412-822-3000 and ask to speak with a dietitian.

https://www.nutrition.va.gov/Recipes/PartiesHolidays/docs/Home-Style-HummusJUL2021.pdf #

12/19/2025

Give blood during our drives with the Red Cross or Vitalant in January and be automatically entered into either a drawing for a chance to win a trip to Super Bowl LX (Red Cross) or a $500 Rewards gift card (Vitalant).

• Red Cross at University Drive
Donate on Jan. 12 at our University Drive campus and the Red Cross will enter you for a chance to win a trip to Super Bowl LX.

Jan. 12, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Room 2M202, Learning Exchange Annex
4100 Allequippa Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15240

To make an appointment:
• Visit http://www.redcrossblood.org/ and enter sponsor code VAPHS
• Call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767)

VA Pittsburgh is not responsible for Super Bowl contest. Learn more about the contest at https://www.redcrossblood.org/local-homepage/events/super_bowl.html.

• Vitalant at our H.J. Heinz III Campus
Give blood on Jan. 26 in building 51's Recreation Hall on our H.J. Heinz III campus and Vitalant will enter you for a chance to win one of 26 $500 Rewards gift cards.

Jan. 26, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Building 51, Recreation Hall
VAPHS H.J. Heinz III Campus
1010 Delafield Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15215

Appointments recommended. To make an appointment:
• Visit https://tinyurl.com/56tbffxc
• Go to Vitalant.org and search with account code UW0230001
• Call 1-877-25VITAL

VA Pittsburgh is not responsible for gift-card promotion. To learn more about the promotion, visit 26 in 26 Giveaway at https://www.vitalant.org/26giveaway.

12/19/2025

12/18/2025

UPDATE Dec. 19: The entrance has reopened.

The Emergency Department (ED) entrance at our Oakland hospital will be closed today, Dec. 18, from 8 p.m. through Friday, Dec. 19, at 7 a.m. for construction. Please use the first-floor parking garage entrance during the closure. Enter the hospital at the first-floor entrance and cross the atrium to access the ED.

12/18/2025

The holidays are often a time of joy and celebration, but they can also bring feelings of anxiety for some.

No matter what you’re experiencing, VA treatments and resources are available: Mentalhealth.va.gov/anxiety/treatment.asp