VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

04/29/2026

04/28/2026

Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month is a time to learn about the support and resources VA has for military sexual trauma (MST) survivors.

Year-round, VA helps MST survivors of all backgrounds.
Learn more: https://mentalhealth.va.gov/SAAPM

04/28/2026

Visiting our University Drive campus this week? Stop by the atrium at University Drive from 9 a.m. to noon on April 28, 29 and 30 to meet our patient advocates and learn about services available to Veterans, caregivers and survivors. https://www.facebook.com/events/1497911652122792/.

04/27/2026

Commemorating VHA’s 80th Anniversary and America’s 250th Birthday:

The first woman director of a VA medical center served Veterans right here in Pittsburgh. In 1971, Dr. Valerija Raulinaitis was appointed director of the Leech Farm Road VA Hospital Leech Farm was later renamed Highland Drive. Highland Drive closed in 2013 after services previously offered there were moved to our University Drive and H.J. Heinz III campuses.

Learn more at https://department.va.gov/history/featured-stories/valerija-raulinaitis-the-first-female-director-and-chief-of-staff-of-a-va-hospital/.

Dr. Valerija Raulinaitis was a trailblazing figure at VA. In October 1962, she made history by becoming the first female Chief of Staff at a VA hospital. Just nine years later, she again broke barriers by becoming the first woman to be named Director of a VA hospital. These appointments were represe...

04/27/2026

Caring and confidential support for Veterans is available 24/7. No matter what you’re going through, you can reach the Veterans Crisis Line by call, chat, or text.

04/26/2026

" So far, everyone at the VA has been fantastic. I am just starting my health journey there. Feel I have accomplished more in a month about my body than I have for years at my old heath care at (a non-VA health care system). Thank you EVERYONE! My experience has been grand, looking forward to my new future at the VA. Much appreciated. Thank you to all. One Heart, One Team. Airborne and God Bless.” -- Veteran 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.

04/25/2026

Did you know VA provides infertility services for men and women Veterans?
Fertility evaluation and some treatments are covered for all Veterans who use VA health care, regardless of service connection, relationship or marital status.

Services include but are not limited to:
• genetic counseling and testing
• surgical treatments for conditions affecting fertility
• in vitro fertilization (IVF)

To learn more about infertility services at VA Pittsburgh, Veterans enrolled with us for health care can contact our infertility RN coordinator, Jaclyn Osiecki, BSN, RN at 412-822-2654 or jaclyn.osiecki@va.gov.

You can also learn more about VA’s fertility and family-building services at https://www.womenshealth.va.gov/topics/fertility-services.asp.

04/25/2026

It’s National Prescription Take Back Day! From 10 a.m.–2 p.m. today, safely dispose of unused or expired medications. Find a nearby drop-off site at https://www.dea.gov/takebackday.

At our University Drive campus, you can drop off medications anytime in the MedSafe box in building 1 near the police office.

04/24/2026

Just in time for the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors, Inc. delivered T-shirts and personalized football jerseys to hospitalized Veterans on our University Drive and H.J. Heinz III campuses.

The nonprofit purchases discounted NFL jerseys when players are traded or retire. It then personalizes the jerseys to give to Veterans, swapping out the players’ names for the Veterans’ names. It presented 150 shirts and jerseys this week to Veterans at VA Pittsburgh.

Shown are:
• Dan Ocko, of Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors, presenting a Steelers jersey to Air Force Veteran Johnnie Brown in our Community Living Center (CLC).
• Korean War Navy Veteran Louis D. Feroce in our CLC with his personalized Steelers jersey.
• Ocko using a heat press to personalize a jersey on our Heinz campus.

To learn how you can volunteer or donate with us, visit https://www.va.gov/pittsburgh-health-care/work-with-us/volunteer-or-donate/.