Event

“Center for Integrated Healthcare at the VA: Overview of the mission, clinical work and research at the center”

Presenter:
Dr. Laura Wray & Dr. Greg Beehler

Presentation Purpose:
To describe the VA Center for Integrated Healthcare’s work related to primary care-mental health integration and encourage future collaborations with the faculty of the University at Buffalo.

Objectives: At the end of the session, the participants will be able to…
1. Describe the primary care-mental health integration initiative in the VA Healthcare System
2. Describe the VA Center for Integrated Healthcare’s clinical and research efforts to improve the health of Veterans through primary care-mental health integration

Brief Presenter Biosketch:
Dr. Laura Wray is the Executive Director of the VA Center for Integrated Healthcare and previously served as the Director of the Center’s Education/Clinical Core at the VA Western NY Healthcare System. She is also an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University at Buffalo. She directs the CIH Advanced Psychology Fellowship in Mental Illness Research and Treatment. She devotes her efforts to supporting the integration of mental health services into PACT through administering educational and clinical activities of the Center, developing and providing training for VA staff working in primary care mental health programs, and directing the Center’s post-doctoral psychology fellowship. Dr. Wray’s research career goal is to improve the primary care of Veterans with dementia. Her research examines the VA implementation of Primary Care – Mental Health Integration, Veteran perceptions of mental health care in PACT, recognition and primary care of dementia, and telephone-based education and support for family caregivers of Veterans with dementia. Dr. Wray is a VHA Certified Mentor and enjoys helping others reach their professional goals.

Dr. Gregory P. Beehler is the acting Associate Director for Research and a Clinical Research Psychologist at the VA Center for Integrated Healthcare in Buffalo, NY. He is an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, the Graduate School of Education, and the School of Nursing at the University at Buffalo. He is a licensed psychologist with a background in medical anthropology who conducts research in several areas of behavioral medicine. His research focuses on advancing the implementation of Primary Care – Mental Health Integration, developing brief interventions for chronic pain, and promoting wellness among cancer survivors. He is particularly interested in patient- and provider-focused research that emphasizes the use of qualitative and mixed methods. He is also the consulting psychologist for the Buffalo VA oncology clinic and supervises pre-doctoral psychology interns at the Center.

CME:
The University at Buffalo (UB) School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The UB School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Denise McGuigan
Email: dpalermo@buffalo.edu
Phone: 829-2922