90-year-old Palo Alto Veteran finds a way to serve again. You can, too.
Navy Veteran Virginia Shefchick is the 20,000th Veteran in the Bay Area to join VA’s Million Veteran Program (MVP), which now has more than 900,000 Veteran participants nationwide.
The goal of MVP’s research is for Veterans to one day be able to visit their doctor and get the right screenings and the right treatment based on their genes, medical history, lifestyle, and military experiences.
Every Veteran who joins makes a difference in our research
Thanks to Shefchick and thousands of Veterans in MVP across the Bay Area, we understand certain health conditions better than ever before. This is just the beginning of what our research has to offer.
Already data from Veterans in our program have supported the largest genetic studies to date on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression, heart disease, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, one of the most common forms of liver disease in the country.
Other areas we’re researching include tinnitus, cancer, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, Gulf War Illness, and suicide prevention.
What it means to join the Million Veteran Program
Fifteen minutes and a blood draw are all it takes. If you decide to enroll, you will be asked to:
- Provide informed consent and allow access to your health records
- Give a blood sample for genetic analysis
- Fill out surveys about health and lifestyle
- Agree to future contact for additional research
MVP researchers do not see any information that directly links your data to you -- like your name, date of birth, or social security number.
Enrolling in MVP is easy
You can sign up online at mvp.va.gov, or by scheduling an appointment at VA Palo Alto by calling 866-441-6075. You can also stop by our MVP office to learn more and join today: 3801 Miranda Avenue, Building 520, Room F-137.
You do not need to receive VA health care to enroll.