Returning Service Members
Program Managers for Returning OEF/OIF/OND Veterans
Albany Program Manager
Leah Macdonald, LCSW
(518) 626-6962
Albany VA Medical Center
113 Holland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208
Leah.Macdonald@va.gov
Dawn R. Smith, LCSW, CCM
(607) 664-4542
Bath VA Medical Center
76 Veterans Avenue, Bath, NY 14810
Dawn.Smith7@va.gov
Lisa Couperus, LCSW
(585) 393-7412
Canandaigua VA Medical Center
400 Fort Hill Avenue, Canandaigua, NY 14424
Lisa.Couperus@va.gov
Tashany Myers, RN
(718) 584-9000 ext. 5872
James J. Peters VA Medical Center
130 W. Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10486
Tashany.Myers@va.gov
Vanessa J. Brown, RN, BSN
(631) 774-1707
Northport VA Medical Center
79 Middleville Road, Northport, NY 11768
Vanessa.Brown@va.gov
Bethany Joncas, LCSW, CCM
(315) 425-4426
Syracuse VA Medical Center
800 Irving Avenue Syracuse, NY 13210
Bethany.Joncas@va.gov
VA Hudson Valley Program Manager
Angel Rosario, LCSW
(914) 737-4400 ext. 3261 or 4628
VA Hudson Valley Health Care System
2094 Albany Post Road, Montrose, NY 10548
Angel.Rosario@va.gov
(973) 676-1000 ext. 1726
VA New Jersey Health Care System
385 Tremont Avenue, East Orange, NJ 07018
Alba.Lopez@va.gov
VA New York Harbor Program Manager
Richard Pinard, LCSW-R
Phone (212) 951-6838
Address: VA NY Harbor Health Care System
423 East 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010
VA Western New York Program Manager (Acting)
Rebecca Welch, LCSW-R
Phone: (716) 862-7452
Address: VA Medical Center
3495 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14215
Rebecca.Welch4@va.gov
Point of Contact for Returning Veterans/Service Members
New York/New Jersey VA Health Care Networ
Lead Program Manager
Dawn R. Smith, LCSW, CCM
(607) 664-4542
Bath VA Medical Center
76 Veterans Avenue, Bath, NY 14810
Dawn.Smith7@va.gov
Transition Patient Advocates for Returning Veterans/Service Members
VA Hudson Valley Transition Patient Advocate
Debra Lucas
(914) 737-4400 ext. 2658 or ext. 4629
VA Hudson Valley Health Care System
2094 Albany Post Road, Montrose, NY 10548
Debra.Lucas@va.gov
Northport Transition Patient Advocate
Kathy F. Washburn
(631) 261-4400 ext. 5273
Northport VA Medical Center
79 Middleville Road, Northport, NY 11768
Kathy.Washburn@va.gov
VA Health Care New Jersey Transition Patient Advocate
Robin Baptiste
Phone: (973) 647-0180, ext. 4094
Address: VA New Jersey Health Care System
151 Knollcroft Road, Lyons, NJ 07939
Robin.Baptiste@va.gov
VA Health Care Upstate New York Transition Patient Advocate
VACANT
Returning Service Members
Every VA Medical Center has a Transition & Care Management Team (formerly OEF/OIF/OND Program) ready to welcome Post-9/11 combat** and non-combat Veterans and Service members. We are here to assist with coordinating your care. Case Managers, who are either nurses or social workers, coordinate patient care activities and help you navigate through the VA system. A Transition Patient Advocate (TPA) acts as your personal advocate as you move throughout the VA healthcare and benefit system.
Welcome Home!
On behalf of the employees and volunteers at the NY/NJ VA Health Care Network, thank you for the service you have given our country. Now that you are home, you are probably trying to decide what your next steps will be. Whether those steps bring you to school, to work or to settling into a new home, we encourage you to use VA services along the way. In just one visit you will be able to see what our doctors, social service providers and caring staff can do for you. It would be our honor to serve you. We hope to see you soon!
It is important to note that if you served in a combat zone you have five years from your date of discharge to enroll in and receive free health care for any condition that may be related to combat service. If you do not enroll within five years post-discharge, access to VA health care services will depend on military history factors and/or household income. Co-payment status may depend on whether your illness or injury is found to be service-connected.
Our Program
The Post-9/11 Transition and Care Management Program offers transition assistance, case management and outreach services to all Veterans who have served after September 11, 2001 in their transition to civilian life. Our program will help you receive the health care you may want or need, as well as provide you and your family the following service options:
- Support for you and your family as you readjust to civilian life
- Individualized care, specific to your unique readjustment needs
- Professional, short-term counseling and referrals for mental health services
- Assistance scheduling and accessing any needed VA Medical Center services
- Contact assistance for VA services near your home
- Information on VA and community services for which you may be eligible
- Personal assistance finding your way through the VA system
- Information and assistance regarding health care benefits and eligibility
**Veterans who served in a theater of combat operations also have special eligibility for VA health care. Under the "Combat Veteran" authority VA provides cost-free health care services and nursing home care for conditions possibly related to military service and enrollment in Priority Group 6 or higher for 5 years from the date of discharge or release from active duty, unless eligible for enrollment in a higher priority group. Combat Veterans who enroll with VA under this enhanced Combat Veteran authority will continue to be enrolled even after their enhanced eligibility period ends, although they may be shifted to Priority Group 7 or 8, depending on their income level, and required to make applicable copays. Additionally, for care not related to combat service, copays may be required depending on their financial assessment and other special eligibility factors.
NOTE: The 5-year enrollment period applicable to these Veterans begins on the discharge or separation date of the service member from active duty military service, or in the case of multiple call-ups, the most recent discharge date.
Special Eligibility and Coordination of Care for Combat Veterans Serving in Combat Theater After 11/11/1998- Returning Servicemembers (OEF/OIF/OND)
The Post-9/11 Transition and Care Management Program offers transitional assistance, case management and outreach services to all Veterans who have served after September 11, 2001 in their transition to civilian life. For more information about the various programs available for recent returning service members, log on to the Returning Servicemembers web site.
Veterans who served in a theater of combat operations also have special eligibility for VA health care. Under the "Combat Veteran" authority VA provides cost-free health care services and nursing home care for conditions possibly related to military service and enrollment in Priority Group 6 or higher for 5 years from the date of discharge or release from active duty, unless eligible for enrollment in a higher priority group.
Combat Veterans who enroll with VA under this enhanced Combat Veteran authority will continue to be enrolled even after their enhanced eligibility period ends, although they may be shifted to Priority Group 7 or 8, depending on their income level, and required to make applicable copays. Additionally, for care not related to combat service, copays may be required depending on their financial assessment and other special eligibility factors.
NOTE: The 5-year enrollment period applicable to these Veterans begins on the discharge or separation date of the service member from active duty military service, or in the case of multiple call-ups, the most recent discharge date.
Special Eligibility and Coordination of Care for Combat Veterans Serving in Combat Theater After 11/11/1998- Returning Servicemembers (OEF/OIF/OND)
The Post-9/11 Transition and Care Management Program offers transitional assistance, case management and outreach services to all Veterans who have served after September 11, 2001 in their transition to civilian life. For more information about the various programs available for recent returning service members, log on to the Returning Servicemembers web site.
Veterans who served in a theater of combat operations also have special eligibility for VA health care. Under the "Combat Veteran" authority VA provides cost-free health care services and nursing home care for conditions possibly related to military service and enrollment in Priority Group 6 or higher for 5 years from the date of discharge or release from active duty, unless eligible for enrollment in a higher priority group.
Combat Veterans who enroll with VA under this enhanced Combat Veteran authority will continue to be enrolled even after their enhanced eligibility period ends, although they may be shifted to Priority Group 7 or 8, depending on their income level, and required to make applicable copays. Additionally, for care not related to combat service, copays may be required depending on their financial assessment and other special eligibility factors.
NOTE: The 5-year enrollment period applicable to these Veterans begins on the discharge or separation date of the service member from active duty military service, or in the case of multiple call-ups, the most recent discharge date.
