Jeannette South-Paul, M.D., DHL(Hon), FAAFP, executive vice president and Provost of Meharry Medical College and veteran herself, joins James E.K. Hildreth, PhD, MD, to discuss the longstanding relationship between the Department of Veterans Affairs and medical schools across the country as well as the impact this collaboration has on the broader health care landscape.
“Realizing the value of the VA helps to emphasize the importance of living a life of service,” South-Paul shared. “When I went to medical school and got an Army scholarship, I had no vision of how I was able to pay for medical school, I just knew I was going to be serving the country that my parents were so excited about coming to.”
Inclusivity In Care
While explaining how veterans access care through the VA, South-Paul noted the importance of recognizing women veterans, and caring for their unique struggles.
“There are separate clinics to help meet the needs of our women veterans because for many of them, they’ve had some traumatic experiences and winding their way through a big facility amongst a lot of men is destabilizing,” she explained.
Expanding on how the VA focuses on minority groups of veterans, South-Paul discussed the benefits of veterans of color receiving care from clinicians who look like them, and can create an air of familiarity.
“Native Americans and American Indians, Latinos, and African-Americans are overrepresented among veterans compared to their low percentage of the population and representation of the country,” South-Paul outlined. “They deserve to have the most diverse group of clinicians where they can feel as if there’s somebody who understands their journey.”
In terms of dental care, South-Paul proudly reflected on the VA’s ongoing contributions to providing dental care for under-privileged areas and communities.
“The more disadvantaged or under-resourced communities there are, the more likely people will have very few teeth in their mouth because it’s limited subsidy for it, and they don’t see the connection between oral health and physical health.”
Intentionality With Education
Speaking on the education of current medical students and what they should know as they begin their careers, South-Paul spoke on the vitality of the VA’s integrated care program, and addressed a variety of people’s needs.
“It’s so important for medical students to learn it’s the only national integrated system of care we have.”
Continuing the discussion of health care education, South-Paul emphasized how the VA focuses on primary care and clinical resources that otherwise would not be available. “Sometimes the thing that a particular institution needs is more primary care. And for some of the less resourced institutions, we’re particularly good at providing primary care.”
Providing education through the VA is a priority within the organization, which South-Paul emphasizes, and speaks on the high standards of the VA which reflect upon the students.
“Ten percent of all the trainees in the country are managed by VA. I think it’s the largest manager of gradual medical education, but all of the other associated health sciences, which I think is the term VA uses.”
Empathy for All
South-Paul reflected on how her involvement in the organization began and expressed her appreciation for “whole-person” care, which accounts for the physical, behavioral, emotional, spiritual and socioeconomic well being of the patient.
“Whole person care means your ability to achieve that aspect of whole health by using interprofessional teams based approach where you establish trust in a longitudinal fashion.”
As a former veteran herself, South-Paul urged listeners to understand and empathize with the unique experiences and perspectives of veterans. “The reality is that veterans have some unique needs and by recognizing what their experiences have been, asking them what has been their experience helps trainees understand their perspectives.”
South-Paul continues to carry an attitude of service throughout her every-day life, and provides a call to action for listeners to do the same, and give back to those who have helped them.
“As John F. Kennedy said, ‘ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.’” she quoted. “And it’s as true today as it was then.”
