How veterans care has improved general medicine

The Veterans Newsletter - The VA has contributed significantly to global medical advancements, though its achievements often go unnoticed. From pioneering mental health treatments to developing life-saving technologies, VA researchers and doctors have consistently pushed the boundaries of modern medicine.

Notable breakthroughs include the development of gold-standard PTSD therapies such as Cognitive Processing Therapy, EMDR, and Prolonged Exposure. The VA also created the first nicotine patch, implanted the first long-term pacemaker, and played a key role in the early development of CT scans and MRIs.

Other major contributions include performing the first successful liver transplant, advancing coronary bypass surgery, and developing radioimmunoassay—a method for detecting trace substances in blood that transformed hormone and disease testing. These innovations, many of which originated in VA medical centers, not only improved care for Veterans but also changed the course of medical treatment worldwide.