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Rebuilding strength through meaningful work If you visit the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center on any given morning, you might spot Navy Veteran Rick Silver crisscrossing campus, checking tire pressure on a government vehicle before heading into a building to ensure fire extinguishers are up to code. It’s a routine that keeps him moving and engaged, but his life didn’t always have this busy rhythm. An electrical engineer by trade, Silver had to step away from the career he loved after a heart attack changed everything. “My mother and my doctor both told me I shouldn’t work anymore because I had a lot of damage to my heart, and if I had another heart attack, I would certainly die,” Silver said. At first, his former employer allowed him to continue working part-time. But when the company asked him to return to a full-time schedule, he faced a hard decision. “The job I had was actually very stressful,” he recalled. “I was still afraid of working the way I used to, so I quit.” Over the next 12 years, Silver became sedentary, and even light activity left him winded. As his heart condition worsened to the point where he needed a transplant, he felt like every day was the same. “Being in the condo and not really having anything that I needed to do except for doctors’ appointments was depressing,” he said. “It was making it harder for me to get up every day.” That’s when his care team at VA Salt Lake City suggested he consider the Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) program, an initiative that helps Veterans build endurance, skills and confidence to rejoin the workforce. CWT program: a path to rebuild strength and confidence “I still have a lot of appointments, and the CWT program has given me an opportunity to build my stamina and get into shape while taking care of my heart,” Silver said. “I started making myself get up earlier to match a typical work schedule.” Unlike permanent jobs, CWT is designed as a steppingstone, providing meaningful work in a supportive environment while allowing Veterans to heal, learn and rebuild. “We take Veteran patients who are facing chronic unemployment, and the idea is to place them in a successful work setting where they can learn the habits needed to be a successful worker,” explained Dr. Robert Banz, vocational services coordinator for the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System. “We find cooperating supervisors who are willing to help our CWT patients with those habits and skills.” While there are some limits on the type of work available, Banz says there’s something for nearly everyone. “There are very few limitations to who can be in our program,” Banz said. “They are patients receiving patient care services, and we try to be as broad as we can.” Today, Silver assists the VA Salt Lake City engineering department with daily tasks. The steady movement, light lifting, and varied responsibilities have helped him regain physical strength without overtaxing his heart. “It makes me feel good that I can give back to VA,” Silver said. “They saved my life.” Silver’s journey proves that sometimes, stepping back is the first step forward. If you or a Veteran you know wants to rebuild skills, regain confidence and prepare for meaningful employment, talk to your VA care team about a consult for the CWT Program. This article was originally published on the VA Salt Lake City Health Care site and has been edited for style and clarity.

Madison Square Garden will be the site of the nonconference matchup between the Rebels and the Red Storm.

In pursuit of VA’s commitment to providing high-quality and Veteran-first care, VA’s National Oncology Program recognizes the significance of a whole health approach to cancer care. Faced with the challenges of cancer, maintaining well-being is truly critical. VA has a wealth of resources, guidance and real-world perspectives that empower Veterans, protect Veteran well-being and foster resilience. Stop cancer before it starts “Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding tobacco and limiting alcohol all help lower cancer risk,” said Dr. Jane Kim, executive director for Preventive Medicine at VA’s National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. “All of these healthy lifestyle behaviors can help prevent and reduce the risk of cancer all while improving your quality of life.” The importance of staying current with cancer screenings Remaining vigilant about your cancer screenings is a key component of proactively protecting your health. By keeping up with recommended cancer screenings, you take an active role in safeguarding your well-being and detecting potential concerns early. For Veterans who are unsure if they are due for a cancer screening, VA provides a convenient quick-reference list outlining the recommended screening guidelines (view online) for the most common cancers affecting the Veteran population. These include screenings for breast, cervical, colorectal and lung cancers. It is equally important to maintain open communication with your VA primary care provider. Discuss your screening schedule with them to confirm whether you are due for any of the recommended tests. Take the opportunity during your visits to ask questions or address any concerns you have regarding family members who may have been diagnosed with rare cancers or at an early age. Your provider can offer tailored advice and guidance based on your personal health history and risk factors. Comprehensive strategies for post-cancer wellness Wellness after cancer treatment is vital for survivors, focusing on restoring overall health beyond physical recovery. According to VA’s Whole Health Library, even if the cancer is cured, Veterans may find themselves adjusting to a “new normal” while they become accustomed to residual side effects from treatment and learning what new symptoms may or may not be concerning for a recurrence. Testifying to the significance of striving for optimal health, Air Force Veteran Denise Baptist—who underwent treatment for multiple myeloma in 2017 and is now in remission—encourages her fellow Veterans to make a conscious decision to improve their lifestyle. Baptist encourages Veterans to, “Keep all their appointments and listen to their doctors.” Who’s got your six? Peer support during cancer treatment offers invaluable companionship, understanding and guidance, providing Veterans with a supportive network of fellow warriors who share their unique experiences and can offer emotional and practical support. In late 2024, VA’s Breast and Gynecologic Cancer System of Excellence (BGSoE) launched a Peer Support Program, a virtual platform for Veterans undergoing treatment for breast or gynecologic cancers. “Peer support is when you can connect with someone else who’s going through, or has gone through the same experience,” said Dr. Haley Moss, director of VA’s BGSoE and gynecologic oncologist at Durham VA. “Peer support provides a vital lifeline to Veteran cancer patients, particularly women with breast or gynecologic cancer, offering them the much-needed reassurance—reassurance and solidarity that has long been overdue.” After cancer: Resources for health In addition to her cancer surveillance program, Baptist participated in the MOVE! Weight Management Program during her post-treatment wellness journey and says her weight is now where it is supposed to be. “There is quality care that is available to Veterans at VA. I want them to take it, live and enjoy life, and allow VA to help them have a better journey in…

At 82 years old, Papa Wong is a man whose life story reflects resilience, service and deep gratitude. A young soldier looking for a new start Wong was just 18-years old and living in Hawaii when tragedy struck. His father figure passed away. The loss pushed him to make a bold decision of leaving home and joining the Army in 1960. At the time, only the Army had open enlistment slots. The young Hawaiian native packed his bags and shipped off to Fort Lee, Virginia, where he trained to service heavy generators, an extension of the skills he’d gained working on missile tracking radars. Early in his service, Wong was assigned to the famous 101st Airborne Division, Kentucky. Naturally, he volunteered for airborne duty. “They told me I’d make $55 more,” he said. “And at that age, that was a whole lot of money.” Jumping, or as he calls it, “being pushed out of airplanes” became one of his favorite memories. His military career eventually sent him from Kentucky to Korea. His memories of his years of military service paint a picture of a man with grit, humility and the sense of duty he still carries today. From hardship to helping others Long before the Army, Wong grew up in what he describes as “third world” conditions—no running water, no electricity and a daily life defined by hard work. To help support his family of six, he fished in the mornings before school, often earning just seven dollars for the day’s catch. But those difficult days of fishing shaped his character. “I became a giver,” Wong shared. “If someone touched the boat, I gave them fish. Big ones, small ones, whatever they needed.” That generosity is still a core part of who he is. Even now, he jokes about giving away his extra food at home. “You cannot keep food too long… I might as well share it,” he explained. It’s this spirit that made today’s Thanksgiving gift especially meaningful for him. “VA is giving things to people who need it,” he said. “I believe in that.” Housing, health care and the support he earned For years after leaving the Army, Wong didn’t enroll in VA health care. It wasn’t until a family member encouraged him. “You won’t lose anything by applying,” he recalled his brother telling him. That’s how he discovered just how many VA services were available to him. Once he enrolled, Wong and his daughter were quickly connected with VA housing assistance, a service that would dramatically stabilize their lives. At the time, they had been paying $2,000 a month for a modest rental, a cost that strained the family’s finances. Through VA’s Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH), Wong was able to secure affordable housing, which eased a burden that had weighed on them for years. In addition to permanent housing, the program paired a case manager with the Veteran to help facilitate access to health care, mental health treatments and other support services for the Veteran. VA also helped him maximize his health care benefits. Wong’s care team coordinated his Medicare and VA coverage to ensure he wasn’t billed for medications he qualified for. “I like the system. They take care of their people,” he said. A Thanksgiving table built on support Food cans of Thanksgiving essentials like canned vegetables, stuffing, and more, are stacked in the trunk of a car ready to be gifted to Veterans. This season, Wong received a 10-pound Thanksgiving turkey with all the fixings from VA TVHS, something he accepted with heartfelt appreciation. “Oh yeah, I’m happy,” he said, smiling wide. “VA is giving things to people who need it, [and] that’s what matters.” His gratitude is a reminder that small acts of kindness can make a big impact, especially for Veterans who have given so much of themselves in service to our country. “The only thing I don’t like is now I have to cook the turkey,” he added. Encouraging other Veterans to enroll Wong’s story is proof that it’s never too late for Veterans to connect with earned benefits. Whether it’s…