Welcome to the Standing Ready podcast. Season 2 explores the history behind VA medical devices, the Million Veteran Program, cardiology, cancer care, medical research and VA’s medical training program.
Standing Ready elevates and highlights the significant contributions – past, present and future – of the nation’s largest health care system through a historical lens. Join Veterans Health historian Katie Delacenserie and producer Shawn Spitler as they delve into VA’s fascinating medical past.
They speak with several VHA innovators and pioneers, including:
Dr. Rory Cooper – helping paralyzed Veterans
Cooper is a senior research career scientist at the VA Human Engineering Research Laboratories. As a paralyzed Veteran himself, Cooper has dedicated his career to improving the lives of paralyzed Veterans. He holds 25 patents in wheelchair technology and is the inventor of many advanced mobility devices and assistive technologies.
Dr. Michael Kelly – cancer care leader
As national program director for oncology for VA, Kelley directs policy and program development that affect the more than 50,000 Veterans diagnosed with cancer each year. He is also chief of hematology and oncology at the Durham VA.
Dr. Khalil Ahmed – improving cancer treatment
Ahmed is a senior research scientist at the Minneapolis VA. For over 40 years, his interest has been in the protein CK2 and its role in cancer therapy. His work has set the stage for potential ground-breaking new therapies.
Dr. Sumitra Muralidhar – Million Veteran Program
Muralidhar is the program director for VA’s Million Veteran Program, a national research program to learn how genes, lifestyle and military exposures affect health and illness. Since the program launched in 2011, more than 870,000 Veteran partners have joined.
Dr. Joseph Stehilik – Veteran heart care
Stehilik is with the Salt Lake City VA. His research in heart failure, heart transplantation and mechanical blood circulation have led the way in Veteran care.
Episodes will be released every two weeks and are available on major streaming platforms.
To listen to previous Standing Ready podcasts, click here.