Fireside Chat, Keynote, Interview
A Conversation with Robert Wilkie, Secretary, US Department of Veterans Affairs
- Ongoing studies on head trauma are expected to enable professional soldiers and Marines to survive longer in ground combat, while a cultural shift away from the hostile attitudes of the 1970s is projected to improve the perception of veterans wearing uniforms off-post.
- Corporate America is anticipated to expand its partnership role to serve the 9.5 million veterans utilizing VA services, with additional collaborations expected with entities such as the Chamber of Commerce and Walmart.
- A "best place to work" rating of six or higher is anticipated to be confirmed in December, coinciding with the VA's implementation of cloud-based electronic health records next year to track a warrior's life history from enlistment.
- The integrated healthcare network established by the Mission Act is expected to evolve into a model where the VA functions as a spoke within a broader network of corporate, medical, academic, and philanthropic care.
- Partnerships with leading cancer centers, including those in Seattle, Fred Hutch, and the University of Washington, are expected to save numerous lives through advanced treatments, while veterans inside the system are projected to maintain superior access to new experimental drugs compared to those outside.
- Artificial intelligence and robotics promotion will continue through academic partnerships with UCLA, Stanford, Duke, and the University of Chicago, alongside an expected fulfillment of General Omar Bradley's vision for all medical and nursing students to complete residencies within the VA.
- A government-wide task force (PREVENTS) involving the NIH, Indian Health, DOD, HHS, and HUD is expected to initiate a national conversation on suicide, shifting focus toward a continuum of mental health, addiction, and homelessness to prevent the "last tragic act" rather than addressing the aftermath.
- The VA plans to work with Congress and non-governmental organizations to locate and assist veterans currently outside the system, addressing a crisis identified as a national and Western problem with parallels in Western Europe, including issues related to Vietnam-era veterans that have festered for approximately 50 years since January.
- In 2020, designated as the "year of the nurse," the VA is expected to define 21st-century nursing skills and responsibilities, positioning nurses to lead care teams, make life-and-death decisions, and operate ahead of private sector counterparts using military culture and modern data-driven capabilities.