Columbia MO VA Medical Center

08/14/2026

Truman VA’s outreach team (three from our team pictured here) will be at the Missouri State Fair from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16, in the Lowell Mohler Assembly Hall. Several Truman VA service representatives will be on-site to include Enrollment, Women’s Health, Su***de Prevention, the Center for Development and Civic Engagement, and more! Are you or someone you know a Veteran who isn’t enrolled in VA health care and will be at the fair? Stop by and our team will assist you with your enrollment needs, along with providing information about VA health services. And remember, Sunday, Aug. 16, also is Military Appreciate Day. All Veterans, active-duty military, and delayed entry recruits receive free gate admission on Aug. 16 with appropriate ID. Additionally, immediate family members can enter for $1.

https://www.mostatefair.com/schedules/daily/aug-16/

08/13/2026

The Veterans Health Administration is the single largest employer of occupational therapists in the United States with over 2,000 practitioners. Occupational therapists and certified OT assistants provide Veteran-centric, state-of-the-art, and evidence-based care (to include telehealth) to over 500 VA sites.

VA occupational therapists evaluate and treat physical, cognitive, and mental health challenges to help Veterans regain everyday independence.

At Truman VA, our occupational therapists are dedicated to helping our Veterans develop, recover, and improve following an illness, injury, or disability. They also got pretty creative with their group photo! Well done and thank you for all that you do!

08/12/2026

We expect to experience extremely hot weather conditions throughout this week, with daily heat index values ranging from 100 to 109. To stay healthy, drink plenty of water, avoid heavy outdoor activity during peak midday sun, wear loose and light clothing, and spend time in air-conditioned spaces or cooler spots.

Stay Hydrated
Drink water often. Aim for about a cup every 20 minutes or regularly throughout the day. Skip drinks with alcohol, heavy sugar, or caffeine. Eat light meals with high water content like fruits and vegetables.

Stay Cooler Outdoors
Stay in the shade and avoid the sun during peak hours (typically 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Wear a wide brim hat, sunglasses, and broad-spectrum sunscreen. Move workouts or heavy tasks to early mornings or late evenings.

Recognize Heat-Related Illness
Watch for symptoms of heat-related illness like dizziness, heavy sweating, headaches, nausea, or muscle cramps. Move to a cool place, sip water, and get medical help immediately if symptoms feel severe or mimic heat stroke.

08/11/2026

Freedom isn’t free. It’s been defended by generations of brave Americans who answered the call. Today and every day, we honor those who served.

08/10/2026

Congratulations to Mary Carr, MD, FACS, for being selected as Truman VA's new Chief of Surgery. Dr. Carr is a board-certified General Surgeon and Surgical Critical Care Specialist with extensive leadership experience within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Throughout her tenure at Truman VA, Dr. Carr has held several key leadership positions, to include Deputy Chief of Surgery, Section Chief of General Surgery, and Interim Deputy Chief of Staff. Most recently, Dr. Carr served as the facility’s Acting Chief of Surgery. As a leader, she has led major clinical operations, spearheaded quality improvement initiatives, and expanded Truman VA’s already robust surgical service offerings.

A graduate of Harvard University, Dr. Carr earned her medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine before completing her General Surgery residency at the University of Colorado Hospital. She went on to complete a Surgical Critical Care fellowship at the University of Missouri and received additional training as a Visiting Fellow in Transplant Surgery at the University of New South Wales. In addition to her board-certifications, Dr. Carr also received certification for the da Vinci Surgical System, an advanced robot-assisted platform for minimally invasive procedures.

With her exceptional clinical and surgical background, proven leadership within the VA, and commitment to high-quality surgical care, Dr. Carr will continue to elevate Truman VA’s Surgery Service while advancing excellence for the Veterans we proudly serve.

08/10/2026

08/08/2026

Truman VA would like to thank the State VFW Auxiliary Office for their generous annual gift of $500 to our General Post Fund. A special thank you to Anita Crowell, Patricia Meyer, and Evelyn Ward for making this donation possible. The donation, which was presented to our CDCE team yesterday, Aug. 7, will help support facility-wide needs and make a meaningful difference for our Veterans.

08/07/2026

Congratulations to Steve Richardson, Chief of Health Administration Service, on his retirement. Today, Aug. 7, is Steve’s last day. In addition to 17 years with Truman VA, Steve also served for more than 20 years in the U.S. Navy. Well done and enjoy your retirement!

08/07/2026

A reminder that over the next year, specific cholesterol, blood pressure, and erectile dysfunction medications will be converted from half-tablet (that requires splitting) to whole-tablet dosing. Once the transition is completed for your medication, each tablet will be the exact daily dosage you have been prescribed – therefore, you should not split your medication once it has transitioned to whole-tablet dosing. Remember, this change will occur gradually over the next year. Please be sure to read your prescription instructions carefully. If you have questions, please contact your care team.

Below is the current list of medications that will transition to whole-tablet dosing:

Blood Pressure Medications: Fosinopril, Lisinopril, Captopril, Enalapril, Candesartan, Losartan, Valsartan, Atenolol, Bisoprolol, Carvedilol, Labetalol, Metoprolol, Chlorthalidone, Hydrochlorothiazide, and Metolazone.

Cholesterol Medications: Atorvastatin, Lovastatin, Pravastatin, Simvastatin, and Rosuvastatin.

Erectile Dysfunction Medications: Sildenafil and Vardenafil.

08/07/2026

On National Purple Heart Day, we recognize the service and sacrifice of every Purple Heart recipient. Your courage is what strengthens our Nation. Thank you.