06/22/2026
Meet Dana Beech, physician assistant in our Environmental Health Clinic.
Q. Are you or a family member a Veteran?
A. My father was a Marine Corps Veteran and a patient at VAPHS for many years before his passing in 2010. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for almost four years during the period of contaminated drinking water.
Q. Tell me a little about your job here at VA Pittsburgh.
A. At VA Pittsburgh, as an environmental health clinician, I provide clinical consultations for Veterans with military-related environmental exposures and associated health concerns.
Q. Why did you want to work at VA, and how long have you been at VA Pittsburgh?
A. After helping my father with a complicated medical history navigate the VA health care system, I was so impressed by the care and respect he received from VAPHS employees. Although the one-on-one interactions with staff were always positive, as his daughter and main caretaker, I did feel overwhelmed at times navigating the VA “system.” I knew then that one day, if ever given the opportunity, I would join the VA professionally to do my part to serve those who have served our country.
I have been at VA Pittsburgh for 10 years now. Prior to the VA, I worked many years in the community as an occupational and environmental medicine provider where I evaluated employees with a variety of work-related environmental exposures, such as lead, silica, noise, carbon monoxide, firefighting foam, hexavalent chromium, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, MEK and infectious diseases, just to name a few. So, the opportunity to join the VA’s Environmental Health Program aligned perfectly with my career goals and training.
Q. What’s your favorite part of your job here?
A. The Veterans! Listening to their stories about active-duty service is both fascinating, as well as humbling.
Q. Where are you from originally or what brought you to Pittsburgh?
A. I am originally from the Eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh in Wilkins Township. I graduated from Woodland Hills High School and earned my physician assistant degree from Chatham University in Shadyside.
Q. What’s one thing Veterans should know about VA that some might not?
A. In large part due to the PACT Act legislation that passed in 2022, VA is moving toward a culture of “Exposure-Informed Care” where time and consideration are given to Veterans with military environmental exposures and related health concerns.
Q. When you aren’t at work, what would we most likely find you doing?
A. You’ll find me either relaxing in the sauna at the YMCA, hanging out in the yard with my 3 chickens, 2 goats, and 1 dog, or spending time with my husband and 3 teenagers.
