The Resilient Show
Brave Solutions: Reforming the VA & Empowering Veterans
Episode Description
America’s largest health‑care system is getting a reboot. New VA Secretary Doug Collins tells former Force Recon Marine Chad Robichaux how he’s cutting red tape and putting veterans first by streamlining claims, shortening wait‑lists, and uniting 170 hospitals into one efficient network. The conversation covers efforts to accelerate claims, cut wait-times, and create seamless hand-offs from DoD service to VA care for the nine million veterans currently enrolled. Collins also shares initiatives including the 988 Veterans Crisis Line, expanded Vet Centers, and partnerships with faith-based organizations, along with community-care upgrades, stronger accountability for under-performers, and clinical trials of stem-cell therapies to treat PTSD and chronic pain. Whether you are a veteran, caregiver, or policy analyst, this discussion sets out brave solutions to reform the VA and empower those who served.
EPISODE DETAIlS
Guest
Secretary of Veteran Affairs, Doug Collins
Biography
The Honorable Douglas A. Collins was sworn in as the 12th secretary of Veterans Affairs on Feb. 5, 2025, following his nomination by President Donald J. Trump. A native of Gainesville, Georgia, Collins saw public service modeled by his father, a Georgia State Trooper, and mother, who provided care to local senior citizens. He earned a degree in political science and criminal justice from the University of North Georgia. Secretary Collins earned his master’s degree in divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and his community roots deepened in the eleven years he pastored Chicopee Baptist Church.
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