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For Release: February 10, 2012
Contact: Faryl Ury, 202-224-5553 (Sen. Shaheen) • Liz Johnson, 202-224-3324 (Sen. Ayotte)

Senators Shaheen, Ayotte Support Partnership Between Manchester VA Medical Center and Dartmouth Medical School

In a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) urged the secretary to approve an application to establish a partnership between the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) Manchester and Dartmouth Medical School. Partnering VAMC’s patient care clinics with Dartmouth’s resources as a world-class medical education and research center would enhance patient care for veterans in New Hampshire, which is the only state without a full-service veterans or military hospital.

“We believe this agreement would help VAMC Manchester provide even better health care to our veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country,” the Senators wrote. “An affiliation between the two institutions would increase the depth of staff at VAMC Manchester by adding medical students, fellows and residents. Such an affiliation would also allow VAMC Manchester to increase its research in essential areas such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Cardiology, and Oncology.”

Press Release (Shaheen, Ayotte)

Full text of the Senators’ letter below:

Dear Secretary Shinseki:

We understand that the Veterans Administration (VA) is currently considering an application to establish an affiliation between Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) Manchester and Dartmouth Medical School. We write to request the VA’s support for this application.

The VAMC in Manchester, New Hampshire, has been providing exceptional health care and internationally recognized research supporting America’s heroes since 1950. Over 22,000 veterans in the local area rely on VAMC Manchester’s urgent care, primary care, mental health, and four community-based outpatient clinics to improve their health and well-being.

As you know, VA Hospitals often rely on sharing agreements and affiliations to enhance their services and increase capability. Dartmouth Medical School is the nation's fourth oldest medical school, combining the resources of an Ivy League institution and a world-class medical center for education, research and service.

We believe an affiliation between VAMC Manchester and Dartmouth Medical School would provide major benefits to the veterans of New England. An affiliation between the two institutions would increase the depth of the staff at VAMC Manchester by adding medical students, fellows and residents. Such an affiliation would also allow VAMC Manchester to increase its research in essential areas such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Cardiology and Oncology.

We appreciate your long service to our nation and your continued leadership at the VA. Thank you for the VA’s recent decision to allow the expansion of acute inpatient contract care at Concord Hospital. We request your support for the application to establish an affiliation agreement between Dartmouth Medical School and VAMC Manchester. We believe this agreement would help VAMC Manchester provide even better health care to our veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country.

-DMS-

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