National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
History of the VHA NCP
“Keeping Veterans Well and Well-informed”
In 1983, a public law authorized VA to provide preventive health services to Veterans. In response, VHA organized a field advisory group, task force, and policy council to oversee and monitor the delivery of preventive services. Facilities were required to appoint prevention coordinators.
NCP Leadership |
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| Robert Sullivan, MD | 1995-2001 |
| Steven J. Yevich, MD, MPH | 2001-2005 |
| Linda S. Kinsinger, MD, MPH | 2005-2015 |
| Jane Kim, MD, MPH | 2015-present |
In 1992, Congress established a National Center for Preventive Health (Public Law 102-585, subchapter II, section 7318) and specified that it would be a field-based program office of the VA Central Office. The Durham (NC) VA Medical Center was selected, and the VHA National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (NCP) opened there in 1995.
Since its inception, NCP has been the VHA’s cornerstone for providing evidence-based health promotion and preventive services guidance and programs for Veterans.
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NCP Program Highlights |
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| 1995 | National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention program office opens in Durham, NC |
| 1997 | Annual Veterans Health Survey debuts, with results guiding future Veteran-centered efforts |
| 2001 | MOVE!® Weight Management Program for Veterans developed, which launched nationally in 2006 |
| 2006 | NCP spearheads HealthierUS Veterans initiative, promoting healthy eating and physical activity |
| 2007 | NCP’s Veterans Health Education and Information section created |
| 2009 | VHA establishes NCP as hub for its clinical preventive services guidance |
| 2010 | NCP leads Secretary’s Transformational Initiatives for the 21st Century, emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention |
| 2011 | Telephone Lifestyle Coaching pilot program is introduced in 24 VHA facilities nationwide |
| 2011 | The Healthy Living Messages campaign launches, with its nine evidence-based messages as the foundation of NCP’s health promotion program |
| 2013 | Veterans Health Library launches, providing 24/7 online health information to Veterans |
| 2014 | Online tool HealtheLiving Assessment, creating personalized health reports for Veterans, debuts |
| 2015 | MOVE! Coach, the MOVE! Weight Management Program’s mobile app for iOS, comes online |
| 2015 | NCP brings aboard the Infection: Don’t Pass It On public health campaign |
