Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center

TUSCALOOSA VA TREATS VETERANS AT UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

June 7, 2016

Tuscaloosa, Ala. -- The University of Alabama Office of Veteran and Military Affairs is partnering with the Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center in providing health care services to its veteran community at the Capstone. 
The Veterans Integration To Academic Leadership initiative, known as VITAL, is a Veterans Health Administration program hosted by the Tuscaloosa VA.  The program strives to provide quality healthcare services to veteran communities at institutions of higher learning. 
Will Suclupe, who serves as the program coordinator for Tuscaloosa VA, is a decorated Iraq War Veteran and UA alumnus.
“Being involved in Veteran and Military Affairs as a UA student and now having the opportunity to serve once again as a professional is truly a ‘dream come true’ and a very rewarding experience,” said Suclupe.
Through this partnership and beyond, the University VMA office has established itself as a true first-class resource center in the provision of services for veterans in an academic setting.  This campus resources center provides a wide range of services that includes Department of Veterans Affairs programs such as VITAL, and Vets Success On Campus, to providing accommodative spaces which includes a computer lab, study rooms and a lounge area.
A newly established service through the VITAL program is called Clinical Video Teleconference. CVT is a telehealth service which allows patients to participate in video appointments from a VMA private space with a VA clinician. “We are currently providing evidence-based psychotherapy with VA psychologists but are working towards providing other clinical services down the road,” said Suclupe.  “If a veteran is interested in CVT at VMA they can contact me or discuss this further with their VA provider.  Our clinical team ensures that our referrals and services are established in a timely manner,” Suclupe added.  
“The capability of CVT on UA’s campus is made available by leveraging the existing private videoconferencing space created by the University for UA dependents to talk with family members stationed overseas,” said Jason Sellars, VMA’s assistant director. “This space can now not only be used for skype calls to a deployed service member, or available for graduating veteran students during interview processes, but can now be used for telehealth services as well.  These collaborative efforts brings services that can truly have a powerful impact in the coming years for the UA veteran population on campus,” added Sellars.
To learn more about the VITAL program and the services offered at the Capstone you can visit Veteran and Military Affairs located on the 3rd floor of Houser Hall, or online at vets.sa.ua.edu.  You may also call 348-0983 and send email inquiries to vitaloutreach@ua.edu.