Our Story
The VA Mid-Atlantic MIRECC was established to address high-priority areas in post-deployment mental health, including PTSD, traumatic brain injury, substance use, suicide prevention, and the unique experiences of Veterans who served following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
Mission and vision
Research, education, and clinical care are deeply interconnected at the VA Mid-Atlantic MIRECC. Each area strengthens the others in support of Veteran mental health.
Our mission
"To improve post-deployment mental health and wellness for Veterans and their families through innovative research, high-quality education, and implementation of evidence-based clinical care."
Everything we do — from laboratory studies to fellowship training programs — flows from this commitment to the men and women who have served our country.
Our vision
"A future where every Veteran has access to the most effective mental health treatments, delivered by a highly trained workforce, informed by cutting-edge science."
We believe that research and care are not separate endeavors — the best science should reach Veterans quickly, and Veterans' lived experiences should shape the research agenda.
How we pursue our mission
The VA Mid-Atlantic MIRECC operates across three integrated pillars, each reinforcing the others.
Education
Clinical care
What guides us
Our values shape every research study, training program, and clinical interaction.
Veteran-centered
Everything we do begins with the needs, experiences, and goals of the Veterans we serve.
Evidence-based
Veterans deserve clinical care grounded in rigorous science, demonstrated effectiveness, and continual evaluation.
Collaborative
We work closely with VA centers of excellence, academic affiliates, researchers, clinicians, and community partners to multiply impact.
Innovative
We pursue bold ideas and novel approaches because Veterans deserve the most effective care science can offer.
Equitable
We are committed to reducing disparities in mental health outcomes and ensuring that all Veterans are represented in research, education, and clinical care.
Our history
From a Congressional mandate to a nationally recognized center of excellence — more than two decades of advancing Veteran mental health research, education, and care.
1997
MIRECCs established by Congress
Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers (MIRECCs) were established in 1997 through Public Law 104-262. All VA Mental Health Centers of Excellence share a mission to improve the health and well-being of Veterans through world-class science, education, and clinical care.
2001
9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 profoundly affected the United States and reshaped the future healthcare needs of Service Members and Veterans within both VA and the Department of Defense.
2003
Post-deployment mental health focus adopted
VA mental health leaders recognized the urgent need to better understand post-deployment mental health and the unique experiences of Veterans serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
2005
VA Mid-Atlantic MIRECC established
The VA Mid-Atlantic MIRECC was awarded to a collaborative investigative team at the Durham, Salisbury, and Richmond VA Medical Centers. Located in a region with a large and diverse military population, it remains the only VA Mental Health Center of Excellence located in the southeastern United States.
2005
Fellowship program launched
The Durham site launched an Office of Academic Affiliations funded fellowship training program, creating a pipeline of VA psychologists and psychiatrists committed to Veteran mental health care and research.
2009
Expansion of fellowship programs
MIRECC fellowship programs expanded to Salisbury and Richmond VA Medical Centers. The MIRECC was instrumental in establishing clinical psychology postdoctoral fellowship programs focused on PTSD, women's health, and psychosocial rehabilitation.
2018
VA Quality Scholars Program
In collaboration with other Durham VA centers, the Durham VA Healthcare System was selected as a site in the nationally recognized VA Quality Scholars fellowship program focused on rigorous quality improvement scholarship and leadership.
Today
A nationally recognized center of excellence
With hundreds of peer-reviewed publications, dozens of active studies, and alumni serving throughout VA, the Mid-Atlantic MIRECC continues to lead the field in post-deployment mental health research, education, and clinical care.
