MSU to celebrate first-of-its-kind veterans' health program

Contact: Leah Barbour

Mississippi State University is the first institution of higher learning in the nation to partner with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide veterans polytrauma medical services, including physical, occupational and speech therapies, along with mental health services. The first veteran to receive services at MSU, Columbus resident Carla Bush, former U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class, discusses her symptoms with MSU physical therapist Kevin Randall.
Mississippi State University is the first institution of higher learning in the nation to partner with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide veterans polytrauma medical services, including physical, occupational and speech therapies, along with mental health services. The first veteran to receive services at MSU, Columbus resident Carla Bush, former U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class, discusses her symptoms with MSU physical therapist Kevin Randall.
Photo by: Russ Houston

STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State University and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will celebrate a new partnership, the first of its kind in the nation, with a public ceremony at MSU's Hunter Henry Center.

On Wednesday [Nov. 5] at 10 a.m., administrators from MSU, the G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Veterans Administration Medical Center and the Veterans Health Administration will mark the celebration of MSU as being the only university campus in the nation to administer veterans' health benefits in conjunction with the VA.

The university, with the Jackson VA, is offering polytrauma services--physical, occupational and speech therapies, along with mental health services services to not only students, but local residents as well.

Jackson VA Medical Center Director Joe Battle, VHA Office of Rural Health Director Gina Capra, U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper and MSU President Mark E. Keenum will give remarks about the new partnership, which officially began in July.

MSU health professionals have been trained in telehealth technologies, and veterans have begun receiving services on campus.

Both occupational and speech therapies are administered at MSU's T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability, while veterans go to the Longest Student Health Center for physical therapy. Student veterans are eligible for mental health services at the Student Counseling Center, while Golden Triangle veterans visit the MSU Psychology Clinic. MSU's G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Center for America's Veterans oversees the administrative duties for all services.

Call 662-325-6719 to learn more about the ceremony or veterans' services.

MSU is online at www.msstate.edu, facebook.com/msstate, instagram.com/msstate and twitter.com/msstate.