State, feds boost veterans’ medical and employment programs

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Recent announcements on the national and state level are aimed at boosting medical and employment help for military veterans.

The Medical College of Wisconsin and UW School of Medicine and Public Health are part of First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden’s Joining Forces Initiative committed to creating a new generation of doctors, medical schools and research facilities that will make sure veterans and their families receive the care worthy of their sacrifice. The initiative includes 130 schools throughout the nation.

“I’m inspired to see our nation’s medical schools step up to address this pressing need for our veterans and military families. By directing some of our brightest minds, our most cutting-edge research, and our finest teaching institutions toward our military families, they’re ensuring that those who have served our country receive the first-rate care that they have earned,” said Obama in a Jan. 11 news release.

Together the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) are committed to improve the education in their medical schools, the research in their laboratories, and the clinical care in their hospitals to better address the issues.

Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary John A. Scocos announced initiatives the state is underrating to connect veterans with jobs as a part of Governor Scott Walker’s plan in a Jan. 11 news release.

Scocos said veterans in Wisconsin have been hit particularly hard by the economic downturn with an unemployment rate between 13 and 15 percent. Veterans receiving unemployment insurance numbered more than 12, 000 in October 2011.

As part of the effort, the VA will host 14 career fairs throughout the state targeting unemployed veterans and potential employers, host on line job fairs to increase access for veterans and partner with the Department of Military Affairs to organize an employer education seminar to explain the benefits of hiring veterans.

The governor has directed the Department of Workforce Development to double the number of job fairs, hire additional re-employment service staff and increase coordination to align unemployment insurance claim-ants with jobs employers need to fill.

Tags: news, military, health, wisconsin