VA Nebraska-Western Iowa
August 2026
Upcoming Events
August 20: Hero Hub Info Fair | Omaha VAMC | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
August 20: Women Veterans Virtual Town Hall | 6 - 7 p.m.
August 29: Overdose Awareness Day | 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Sept 1: Flag Raising & Resource Fair | 8 a.m.
Sept 7: Labor Day Federal Holiday | Outpatient services closed
Sept 15: Grand Island Creative Arts Reception | 4:30 - 7 p.m.
NWI in the News
Veterans get creative for local competition - KSNB Local 4
New federal electronic health record system coming to Omaha VA - First Alert 6
Omaha VA to roll out new health record system - KETV
Fremont City Council votes 8-0 to advance plans for new VA clinic on the city's growing east side of town - 3 News Now
 Therapeutic Lifestyle Clinic
Are you looking to make active lifestyle changes to improve your health but not sure where to start? We are here to help!
The Clinic includes:
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5 Therapeutic Lifestyle Classes weekly on Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. October 14, 21, 28, November 4, & Tuesday November 10th
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3 Shared Medical Appointments December 9th, January 6th, & February 3rd from 9:30-11:00 a.m.
- Review of personal lab results
- 1:1 time with a health coach, dietician, and Nurse Practitioner
Ideal for Veterans with:
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Metabolic Changes: Diabetes, Liver Disease, Heart Disease, Obesity
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Chronic Pain: Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, Migraines
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Mental Health or Energy Challenges: Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, & Fatigue
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Gastrointestinal issues: Irritable or Inflammatory Bowel Disorder, Food Sensitives
- And so much more!
Request a consult to the Therapeutic Lifestyle Clinic today through your VA provider or Whole Health clinician.
Contact Whole Health at 402-744-7300 with questions.
 September Suicide Prevention Month
VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System will hold several events throughout the month of September in observance of Suicide Prevention Month:
- On Tuesday, September 1 at 8 a.m. we will hold a Flag Raising Ceremony at the Omaha VA Medical Center, Lincoln VA Clinic, and Grand Island VA Medical Center. Veterans, staff and the public are invited to the flag raising to support survivors and remember those who have been lost to suicide.
- September 11 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Resource table and popcorn at Omaha VA Medical Center
- September 16 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Resource table at Lincoln VA Clinic and Omaha VAMC
- September 18 | 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Resource table and popcorn at Grand Island VAMC
- September 25 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Resource table at the Omaha VA Medical Center in the ACC
Veteran artists are invited to submit original artwork to be displayed in the new Fremont VA Clinic, anticipated to open in late 2027.
Contest requirements:
- 24” x 36” Frameable art
- Theme of artwork should be nature, calm, relaxing
- Complements interior of the clinic (soft greens, blues, oranges, grays)
- Veteran must be willing to donate artwork to VA
Submission: Deadline for submission is August 31, 2027
Submit art to Center for Development & Civic Engagement (Voluntary Services):
Omaha - Heather Shelley (Rm B801)
Lincoln - Ty Andrews (Rm 1209)
Grand Island - Jody Johnson (Rm C204A)
For questions or more information, contact Kimberly Gorman at kimberly.gorman@va.gov.
Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs Events
The Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs is hosting several upcoming events:
Aug 28-29: Nebraska Veterans Mission of Mercy Free Dental Clinic
Sept 18-20: Nebraska Women Veterans Symposium
Get Recommended Screening Tests and Immunizations
It’s important to keep up with your screening tests and immunizations to prevent certain kinds of illness. Recommendations for preventive services depend on your age, sex, health status, and family history. Every person is different.
All preventive services have possible benefits (pros) and harms (cons). Depending on your values and preferences about these benefits and harms, you may wish to receive additional, fewer, or different services than those that are recommended. Talk with your health care team about their recommendations for screening tests and immunizations that are right for you.
“Screening” means looking for a condition before there are any signs or symptoms of that condition. If you already have a symptom of the condition, you should talk with your provider about it, even if you were recently screened and no problem was found.
Regardless of age, sex, health status and family history, you should be screened for alcohol abuse, depression, high blood pressure, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), military sexual trauma, obesity, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and tobacco use.
You should also follow the appropriate cancer screening guidelines. Keeping up with immunizations is also important to stay healthy. You should receive a flu shot every year and a tetanus shot at least every 10 years but some Veterans may need it sooner (indicated for wound management if greater than 5 years has passed since your last shot and those Veterans that are pregnant should receive Tdap vaccine during every pregnancy from 27-36 weeks of gestation). See Preventive Care Recommendation Charts for more information on Staying Healthy for men and for women.
If you have not received a COVID-19 vaccine already, you can best protect yourself by doing so now. Or, if you are not up to date on your COVID-19 vaccination, see this link to help you Stay Up to Date with Your COVID-19 Vaccines | CDC. COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in preventing serious illness from COVID-19. They will also protect you from newer virus variants that may spread more easily and affect you more severely. COVID-19 vaccines may be given at the same time as other vaccines, including influenza vaccines. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community.
Want to Know More?
If you want to learn more about getting recommended screening tests and immunizations, talk with your VA health care team. They can also help if you have questions about making a healthy living change.
Resources
Welcome to our Veteran Spotlight, where we honor the stories behind the uniform and the lives shaped by service. Follow us on Facebook to see the spotlight each week.
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Meet Felicia Bryson. Growing up in Omaha and joining the military after college, Felicia was looking for something different and an opportunity to see the world. She decided to join the United States Air Force, serving for more than 25 years, later admitting, it was the best decision she made. Read Felicia's Veteran Spotlight on Facebook. |
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Meet Tyler Carter. Tyler has always loved to cook. After graduating from high school, the South Omaha native joined the U.S. Army in 2010, where he hoped to turn that passion into a career. Over the next eight years, he served as a culinary specialist, deploying twice to Afghanistan before later serving in Jordan and Kuwait. Continue reading on Facebook. |
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Meet John Dyson. Growing up on a fourth-generation family farm near Lyons, Nebraska, John Dyson wasn't sure where life would lead after college. In 1989, he found his purpose by enlisting in the United States Air Force, beginning a remarkable 34-year career of service. Continue reading on Facebook. |
 The DAISY Award is a recognition program to celebrate and recognize nurses by collecting nominations from patients, families, and co-workers. The award was started by the family of J. Patrick Barnes to recognize the compassionate care given to him. Registered nurses are eligible to receive the award. Click here if you would like to nominate a nurse for the DAISY Award.
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