By Dominick Ramos
With about 25 percent of its student body affiliated with the U.S. military, Old Dominion is leading the charge to assist veterans in obtaining quality health care.
The University's Military Connection Center provides comprehensive support for veterans, active duty service members, reservists, guardsmen and their families to succeed at ¹ú²úÂ×Àí from admission to graduation and, ultimately, in productive careers.
Former VA State Health Commissioner Karen Remley noted that the Commonwealth is home to about 800,000 veterans - or 1 in 8 residents - a significant number of whom served multiple deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Many veterans are proactive in searching for services to improve their health, specifically through the Veteran's Health Administration (VA); however, some find difficulty in obtaining timely assistance.
To support that population, the Military Connection Center is holding a Veterans Health Fair on Feb. 24 to provide free health and wellness screenings, counseling and referrals to address veterans' overall health.
"Veteran success, whether it relates to academic, personal or professional endeavors, relies on how well they feel mentally, physically or emotionally," said America Luna, director of the Military Connection Center. "If any of these elements are lacking, it makes it difficult to focus on anything, especially academics."
The Veteran's Health Fair, is a collaborative effort between ¹ú²úÂ×Àí and the community. This comprehensive approach to veteran's overall wellness will involve volunteer local healthcare professionals, health educators and retired military personnel with one mission: to address veterans and their current medical issues as well as educate them on how to maintain a balanced lifestyle.
The fair will encompass a diverse selection of healthcare screenings, including primary care, dental, eyesight and mental health. Screenings will include healthcare tips and referrals from local healthcare providers. Veterans will also receive wellness education through coaching and nutritional advice provided by staff of the Department of Recreation and Wellness.
The Department of Veteran's Services will be in attendance to address questions regarding benefits, and additional services (i.e. hospice, internment and vocations). Additionally, Habitat for Heroes, a program of Habitat for Humanity, will be on hand to discuss affordable housing options with qualified families and individuals.
The Veteran's Health Fair will be held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Student Recreation Center, which is located at 4700 Powhatan Avenue. All veterans, regardless of affiliation with ¹ú²úÂ×Àí, are encouraged to attend. For more information about the event, visit the or contact the event organizers at veteranshealthfair@odu.edu.
