{"id":7846,"date":"2025-07-09T14:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-09T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7846"},"modified":"2025-07-09T14:30:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T14:30:00","slug":"houston-va-provides-top-pancreas-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7846","title":{"rendered":"Houston VA provides top pancreas care"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published:<\/strong> 2025-07-09T14:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n

A new program at Houston VA<\/a> is changing the lives of Veterans in southeast Texas and beyond.\u00a0The facility has been designated as the first Center of Excellence for pancreas care within the VA system by the National Pancreas Foundation (NPF). The hospital\u2019s innovative new Pancreas Clinic aims to provide comprehensive care for Veterans suffering from pancreatic diseases.<\/p>\n

Charles Morgan, an Army Veteran from Cleveland, Texas, struggled for years with chronic pancreas problems until he received care at Houston VA.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was dealing with recurring pancreatitis, and it seemed liked no one could figure out how to stop my pain,\u201d he shared.\u00a0\u201cNow with my dedicated team, I was able to have my surgery and get a clear treatment plan and the support I need. It\u2019s been life changing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Treating the Whole Veteran<\/h2>\n

\u201cWe can help Veterans with not only the diagnosis of pancreas disease but also with pain management, surgery, nutritional guidance, chemical dependency programs and psychosocial support,\u201d said Dr. Shifa Umar, a Houston VA gastroenterologist and pancreatologist. \u201cOur objective is to have the best patient outcomes by treating the whole Veteran and improving their quality of life.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pancreas, located behind the stomach, produces insulin and digestive enzymes. Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, is a debilitating condition that significantly affects the quality of life for many Veterans. About 67,000 cases of pancreatic cancer are diagnosed annually in the U.S., with Veterans facing a higher incidence than non-Veterans.<\/p>\n

NPF Centers of Excellence<\/a> such as Houston VA are top-tier health care facilities that undergo rigorous audit reviews to ensure they focus on a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of pancreas disease.<\/p>\n

Morgan, who served as a nurse in the Army back in the 1990s, says his confidence in his doctors is what makes him drive hours to the medical center for care. \u201cI am so impressed with Dr. Umar,\u201d he said. \u201cShe is so smart, listens so intently and cares so much. It really makes her unstoppable as a doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m in awe of the strength and determination I see in my Veteran patients,\u201d said Umar. \u201cIt\u2019s incredibly rewarding to care for those who have served our country. The world-class care we provide them at Houston VA is a testament to the dedication and resilience of both the health care providers and the Veterans we serve.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Houston VA been designated as the first Center of Excellence for pancreas care within the VA system by the National Pancreas Foundation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":67,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7846","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s-veterans-health-care"],"yoast_head":"\nHouston VA provides top pancreas care - Its Veterans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Houston VA been designated as the first Center of Excellence for pancreas care within the VA system by the National Pancreas Foundation.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7846\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Houston VA provides top pancreas care - 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