VHA LGBTQ+ Health Program
VHA LGBTQ+ Health Trainings
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. Trainings are available to anyone who is interested. They are designed to shape the environment of care for enhanced health, well-being and quality of life for LGBTQ+ Veterans.
LGBTQ+ Trainings: available free and on-demand for all.
Community providers who work with LGBTQ+ Veterans and anyone who is interested can take many of the trainings developed by the LGBTQ+ Health Program at no cost. Trainings are available on Veterans Health Administration’s TRAIN Learning Network, a free service of the Public Health Foundation and the most comprehensive catalog of public health training opportunities. Registration is required with TRAIN. VA employees can also utilize TRAIN to take trainings outside the VA network.
Most trainings are 15 minutes long and provide information about specific health care needs of LGBTQ+ Veterans. Follow the links below.
Sexual Orientation: Why it Matters in Health Care - (13 Minutes)
Sexual orientation is an important part of everyone’s identity. Understand how and why Veterans’ sexual orientation matters in the health care setting, and how to deliver personalized care. All patients should be asked about their sexual orientation to understand their needs. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) Service Members were treated differently for many years. To overcome that history, VA staff need to build trust and show LGBQ Veterans that they belong at VA. You can make a connection and show that VA cares: https://www.train.org/vha/course/1121513/details
Transgender People: 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
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Health Care
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
Care enhanced through VA Transgender & Gender Diverse E-Consults
Question: As a transgender or gender diverse Veteran, can I get a second opinion on my gender-affirmation treatment plan?
Answer: Any VA provider can get consultation from an interdisciplinary team of experts in treatment of transgender and gender diverse Veterans. With your consent, a VA provider (nurse, doctor, social worker, psychologist, etc.) can get advice about your treatment plan through your electronic medical record. The expert team will review your medical record and answer your provider’s questions. Common questions include asking about hormone doses, blood tests, preventive screenings
Download this flyer and bring it in to your next medical appointment to start this conversation.
Transgender & Gender Diverse Veteran Ebulletin |
LGBTQ+ Postdoctoral Psychology Fellowship Training Positions
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 fellows will receive specialty clinical training with LGBTQ+ Veterans in diverse clinics and will complete a research or scholarly project. To find out more please visit the VA Psychology Training Website.
TRAINING SITES:
- Bedford MA
- Boston, MA
- Chicago, IL
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Houston, TX
- Milwaukee, WI
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- West Haven, CT
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 Hospital
- Training Director: Katherine Meyers, 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: Katherine.Meyer@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: Sarah Beckwith, PhD
- 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: Amanda Ortiz
- web site:https://www.va.gov/san-diego-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-internship-and-fellowship-programs/
- POC email: Amanda.Ortiz@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: Aliya Webermann, Ph.D., Georgina Gross, Ph.D.
- web site:https://www.va.gov/connecticut-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/
- POC email: Aliya.Webermann@va.gov, Georgina.Gross@va.gov,
Need Help? 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
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