Patient Care Services

LGBTQ+ VHA Staff/Provider Training

LGBTQ+ VHA Staff/Provider Training

LGBTQ+ Health Program oversees educational programs on LGBTQ+ health in VHA. We provide ongoing educational programs for VHA staff about best practices in LGBTQ+ healthcare. They are designed to shape the environment of care for enhanced health, well-being and quality of life for LGBTQ+ Veterans.

• LGBTQ+ VHA Staff/Provider Online Training, available on-demand outside the VA

  We provide ongoing educational programs for VHA staff about best practices in LGBTQ+ healthcare. Many of these trainings are on our internal VA websites but the following are available on-demand outside the VA:

  • Do Ask, Do Tell: 5 Awkward Minutes to Better Patient Care*

  The trainings listed below (25 minutes or less) are on TRAIN, a free service for learners from the Public Health Foundation.

  • Introduction *
  • Diagnosing Gender Dysphoria *
  • Assessment of Readiness and Consent for Hormone Therapy *
  • Medical Evaluation for Feminizing Hormone Therapy *
  • Medical Evaluation for Masculinizing Hormone Therapy *
  • Feminizing Hormone Therapy *
  • Masculinizing Hormone Therapy *
  • Writing Support Letters for Transgender Veterans *
  • Mental Health Eval for Gender Affirming Surgery *
  • Older Transgender and Gender Diverse Veteran Care *
  • Psychotherapy for Gender Dysphoria *
  • Care for the Gender Non-Binary Veteran *
  • LGB Veteran Health Care Modules - Group 1 *
    • Health Concerns for Gay and Bisexual Men
    • Health Concerns for Lesbian and Bisexual Women
    • Health Concerns for Older LGB Veterans
    • Minority Stress and Health
  • LGB Veteran Health Care Modules - Group 2 *
    • Fertility and Family Building
    • Stress and Trauma-Informed Care
    • Sexual Health Care for Genderqueer and Nonbinary Veterans
    • Importance of an Affirming Clinical Environment

  Internal Training Program
  

  • Provision of consultation on transgender and gender diverse Veteran care to VA healthcare providers via regional E-Consultation teams.

  For more information about these programs see https://www.ruralhealth.va.gov/providers/Enterprise_Wide_Initiatives.asp

  LGBTQ+ Postdoctoral Psychology Fellowship Training Positions

  Postdoctoral Psychology Fellowship Training Positions with an Emphasis on LGBTQ+ Health Care for Veterans.

  Purpose: The purpose of this announcement is to request applications for a one-year Postdoctoral Psychology Fellowship position for training in Clinical or Health Psychology with an emphasis in LGBTQ+ interprofessional health care for Veterans. The objective of this fellowship is to increase VA’s capacity to provide culturally and clinically appropriate care to LGBTQ+ Veterans. The nine sites include Bedford, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Milwaukee, San Diego, San Francisco, and West Haven. The fellows will receive specialty clinical training with LGBTQ+ Veterans in diverse clinics and will complete a research or scholarly project.

  Eligible Fellows: Psychology fellows must have completed all requirements of an APA-accredited psychology doctoral program and an APA-accredited internship. Fellows must be US citizens. To find out more please visit the VA Psychology Training Website.

  Sites
  •  Bedford
    - Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial VA Medical Center
    - Training Director: Richard Amodio, PhD
    - Track Supervisor: Stephen Gresham, PhD
    - web site: https://www.va.gov/bedford-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/
    - POC email: Stephen.Gresham2@va.gov

  •  Boston
    - VA Boston Healthcare System (VABHS)
    - Training Director: Amy Silberbogen, PhD
    - Track Supervisor: Colleen Sloan, PhD
    - web site: https://www.va.gov/boston-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training-programs/
    - POC email: colleen.sloan2@va.gov

  •  Chicago
    - Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospitall
    - Training Director: Caroline Hawk, PhD
    - Track Supervisor: Kristin Raley, PhD
    - web site: https://www.va.gov/hines-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/postdoctoral-fellowship-in-clinical-psychology/
    - POC email: caroline.hawk@va.gov

  •  Hawaii
    - Honolulu - VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS)
    - Training Director: Shiloh Jordan, PhD
    - Track Supervisor: Mary Harlinger, PhD
    - web site: https://www.va.gov/pacific-islands-health-care/work-with-us/jobs-and-careers/psychology-training-education/
    - POC email: mary.harlinger@va.gov

  •  Houston
    - Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
    - Training Director: Ellen Teng, PhD
    - Track Supervisor: Angela Romeo, PsyD
    - web site: https://www.va.gov/houston-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-internship-and-postdoctoral-residency/
    - POC email: Ellen.teng@va.gov

  •  Milwaukee
    - Milwaukee VA Medical Center
    - Training Director: Heather Smith, PhD
    - Track Director: Gregory Simons, PhD
    - web site: https://www.va.gov/milwaukee-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training-program/
    - POC email: Gregory.SimonsJr@va.gov
  

  •  San Diego
    - VA San Diego Healthcare System
    - Training Director: Natalie Castriotta, PhD
    - Track Director: Pollyanna Casmar, PhD
    - web site:https://www.va.gov/san-diego-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-internship-and-fellowship-programs/
    - POC email: Pollyanna.Casmar@va.gov

  •  San Francisco
    - San Francisco VA Medical Center
    - Training Director: Samuel Wan, PhD
    - Track Director: Michael Burnias
    - web site:https://www.va.gov/san-francisco-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training-programs/
    - POC email: Michael.Burnias@va.gov

  •  West Haven
    - West Haven - VA Connecticut Healthcare System
    - Training Director: Josh Bullock, PhD
    - Track Co-Supervisors: Alex Gonzales-Harsha, Psy.D. Georgina Gross, Ph.D.
    - web site:https://www.va.gov/connecticut-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/
    - POC email:  Georgina.Gross@va.gov, Alex.Gonzales-Harsha@va.gov

  LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator (VCC) Services

  There is an LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator (LGBTQ+ VCC) at every facility to help you get the care you need. VHA policies require that your health care is delivered in an affirming and inclusive environment and that VHA employees respect your identity.
  
  Reach out to your local facility’s LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator today:  https://www.patientcare.va.gov/LGBT/VAFacilities.asp
  Not yet a patient at VA? - Apply Now

  *Link will take you outside of the Dept of Veterans Affairs (VA) Website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites. The link will open in a new window for the content of the linked websites.

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