News, events & media

The Public Affairs Office for VA Northern California Health Care System is available to respond to local and national media inquiries and requests.

Local and national media inquiries and requests

The Public Affairs Office at VA Northern California Health Care System can provide the following support and assistance to members of the news media:

Subject matter experts
Interview scheduling
Fact sheets and statistical information
Information about VA related special events

For assistance in covering health and medical stories and to set up interviews with our VA subject matter experts, please contact the Office of Public Affairs by email or by calling 916-843-7466. If you are a reporter calling after hours, please call 925-407-7723.

VA Northern California Health Care System Public Affairs team

Derrick Shelton
Acting Chief of Public Affairs
916-843-7466

Erika Figueroa
Deputy Public Affairs Officer
916-843-7466

Jamie Lanier
Webmaster
916-843-7466

Kingston Dillard
Audiovisual Production Specialist
916-843-7466

Maurice Johnson
Outreach Coordinator
916-843-7466

Victoria Thompson
Program Support Specialist
916-843-7466

Vacant
Visual Information Specialist
916-843-7466

Guidelines

The following guidelines can assist you in arranging interviews, video sessions, or photo opportunities:

Call the Public Affairs Office to arrange all interviews with VA Northern California Health Care System staff. We will respond as quickly as we can. (Patients seeking medical advice should contact their health care provider or dial 911 for medical emergencies.)
Advance notice of on-site interviews is necessary. Public Affairs staff need as much notice as possible to arrange subject matter experts, locations for media interviews, or photo shoots for your story.
Public Affairs staff must accompany all film crews and photographers while on campus. Our main priority is patient privacy and adherence to HIPAA regulations. We also want to make sure you get the information you are looking for and to coordinate shoot locations and ensure interviews go smoothly.

If you are a student working on a research paper and looking to interview a Veteran about his military experience, we encourage you to contact a Veterans Service Organization for assistance. You can find a comprehensive list at Recognized Veterans Service Organization - Office of General Counsel (va.gov). The public affairs office is not staffed to support research for students.

Get updates from VA Northern California health care

VA news and alerts email subscription services offered by VA Northern California VA Health Care System allow Veteran patients, their families, VA employees, and the general public to sign up to receive emails from us about vital news and emergency alerts. You can opt to get emails about new programs and services, special events and educational programs, health recommendations, changes in clinic hours and schedules, and/or emergency alerts by registering. Your email address will remain confidential, and you may unsubscribe at anytime.