VA Hospital Houston: Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
Houston is home to one of the largest and most distinguished Department of Veterans Affairs health care systems in the nation. The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center has one of the largest VA residency programs, drawing fresh talent from medical schools across the nation each year.

Asbestos.com is the nation’s most trusted mesothelioma resource
The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com has provided patients and their loved ones the most updated and reliable information on mesothelioma and asbestos exposure since 2006.
Our team of Patient Advocates includes a medical doctor, a registered nurse, health services administrators, veterans, VA-accredited Claims Agents, an oncology patient navigator and hospice care expert. Their combined expertise means we help any mesothelioma patient or loved one through every step of their cancer journey.
More than 30 contributors, including mesothelioma doctors, survivors, health care professionals and other experts, have peer-reviewed our website and written unique research-driven articles to ensure you get the highest-quality medical and health information.
About The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com
- Assisting mesothelioma patients and their loved ones since 2006.
- Helps more than 50% of mesothelioma patients diagnosed annually in the U.S.
- A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
- 5-star reviewed mesothelioma and support organization.
Testimonials
My family has only the highest compliment for the assistance and support that we received from The Mesothelioma Center. This is a staff of compassionate and knowledgeable individuals who respect what your family is experiencing and who go the extra mile to make an unfortunate diagnosis less stressful. Information and assistance were provided by The Mesothelioma Center at no cost to our family.LashawnMesothelioma patient’s daughter
How to Cite Asbestos.com’s Article
APA
Munz, A. (2023, September 19). VA Hospital Houston: Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. Asbestos.com. Retrieved October 2, 2023, from https://www.asbestos.com/veterans/va-treatment-centers/va-hospital-houston/
MLA
Munz, Aaron. "VA Hospital Houston: Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center." Asbestos.com, 19 Sep 2023, https://www.asbestos.com/veterans/va-treatment-centers/va-hospital-houston/.
Chicago
Munz, Aaron. "VA Hospital Houston: Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center." Asbestos.com. Last modified September 19, 2023. https://www.asbestos.com/veterans/va-treatment-centers/va-hospital-houston/.
About Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
Veterans with mesothelioma are entitled to seek medical treatment anywhere within the VA system, and the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) in Houston offers one of the best options in the region.
MEDVAMC is a state-of-the-art facility with almost 400 hospital beds and an automated supply-delivery system. It also has several indoor and outdoor gardens to promote patients’ relaxation and well-being.
The medical center strives to be a model institution for the VA network. MEDVAMC’s many honors include accreditation by the College of American Pathologists and The Joint Commission. The skill of MEDVAMC’s surgeons is reflected in consistently low mortality rates for major procedures.
Most of MEDVAMC’s staff physicians double as faculty members at the prestigious Baylor College of Medicine. The VA system in Houston has had a close affiliation with Baylor for more than 50 years.
Thanks to this partnership, MEDVAMC has fostered its own robust research and development program, which plays a major role in a national genetic research initiative known as the Million Veteran Program.
Local VA clinics throughout the region refer veterans to MEDVAMC for cancer treatment and surgery. When veterans must be hospitalized, free lodging is available for family members through the Fisher House Foundation.
The VA system in Houston was the first to have three Fisher Houses dedicated to it.
In November 2021, the Houston VA Medical Center received an Award for Outstanding Nursing Quality from Press Ganey, which established the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators as a scoring system to determine how hospitals enhance the patient experience.

Houston VA Connections with Mesothelioma Specialists
MEDVAMC’s advantages for mesothelioma patients come from its close ties to the Baylor College of Medicine and its partnership with the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The Lung Institute at Baylor College of Medicine’s founding director is Dr. David Sugarbaker. Previously, he founded the International Mesothelioma Program in Boston.
Sugarbaker is nicknamed “Mr. Mesothelioma” in the medical community because of his pioneering work in treatment for pleural mesothelioma. Thanks to his leadership, Baylor’s Mesothelioma Treatment Center has achieved worldwide recognition.
The good news for veterans with mesothelioma is when thoracic surgeons do a residency at the Baylor College of Medicine, they also treat patients at MEDVAMC.
Cancer specialists in Houston stay in close collaboration through the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center. The center’s partners include MEDVAMC, Baylor, Texas Children’s Hospital, Ben Taub Hospital and Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center.
The Duncan Cancer Center has been recognized by the National Cancer Institute as one of the top treatment centers in the nation.
Researchers at Duncan are breaking new ground in personalized care and targeted mesothelioma cancer treatment. Cutting-edge resources, such as Baylor’s Human Genome Sequencing Center, have played a key role in their success.
The best hope for veterans with mesothelioma is to seek out a team who is up to date on the latest cancer treatment technology. The VA system in Houston offers this opportunity as well as VA health care systems in Boston and Los Angeles.