VA North Texas Health Care System
Dallas VA Medical Center Recognizes Research Week
May 11, 2010
DALLAS – The Research & Development program at Dallas VA Medical Center (VAMC) will celebrate Research Week May 18-19. This year’s theme, "VA Research: 85 Years of Discovery, Innovation, and Advancements for Veterans" emphasizes the impact that research has on treating and preventing disease and disability for our nation’s Veterans. Activities to take place in the atrium, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. will feature remarks on the future of research, presentations by local investigators on their advances in medical care, as well as a poster contest for trainees.
"Dallas VAMC has a dynamic research program serving the needs of Veterans," said Dr. James P. LePage, associate chief of staff of Research & Development. "Researchers perform cutting-edge investigations in critical areas that include post traumatic stress disorder, cardiology, substance dependence, gastroenterology, sleep, mental illness, HIV, and diabetes with state-of-the-art technology and innovative clinical services as well as education and research opportunities," LePage added.
Through a longstanding affiliation with The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (UT Southwestern), Dallas VAMC is not only a major teaching hospital but a main medical research center. Staff physicians and service chiefs serve as faculty members at UT Southwestern. Dallas VAMC is also supported by its research foundation, Dallas VA Research Corporation (DVARC), which is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization established to support research and educational activities. DVARC facilitates clinical trials to advance medical care.
Dallas VAMC has active programs to find the best way to assist Veterans with disabilities to return to employment and projects which target the causes of homelessness. "We are proud of the considerable work our researchers perform to improve treatment for Veterans, some of which will be featured during Research Week activities," concluded LePage.
Dallas VAMC will also host a research summit on May 21 entitled "Frontiers in Cardiovascular Disease." The goal of this symposium is to provide an outline of the current status, promise and limitations of the various treatments and diagnostic tests for cardiovascular disease and is designed for primary care providers, cardiologists, cardiovascular scientists, and other health care providers who participate in the management of patients with cardiovascular disease.
