From Veterans to Civilians: How VA Whole Health Is Shaping U.S. Healthcare

What began as a bold move inside the Veterans Health Administration is now influencing care far beyond military circles. Whole Health, a model that centers care around what matters most to the individual, is reshaping how healthcare systems across the U.S. define and deliver health.

With its focus on purpose, lifestyle, mental health, and community, this approach has proven that a more human-centered, values-driven model can succeed at scale. Now, civilian systems are paying attention. How is this shift unfolding, and what does it mean for healthcare professionals ready to lead the next wave of transformation?

What Is Whole Health? Understanding the Core Principles

Whole Health is a comprehensive approach to care that centers the individual’s purpose, values, and goals, not just their conditions. It moves healthcare beyond symptom management by asking a different starting question: What matters to you? That question changes everything, from how care is delivered to how outcomes are measured.

This model draws from integrative health, mind-body medicine, and systems thinking. It recognizes that well-being is shaped by more than biology. Emotional health, community connection, spiritual meaning, and lifestyle choices all play key roles in healing and resilience. Whole Health doesn’t separate these factors, it weaves them together.

Core Elements of the Whole Health Model

• Emphasis on purpose and meaning as a foundation for well-being
• Prevention and lifestyle choices at the center of care planning
• Mind-body approaches rooted in evidence-based integrative health
• Systems thinking to align people, practices, and community support
• A shift in mindset from treating disease to cultivating vitality

This model has its roots in integrative medicine, mind-body science, and whole-person care philosophies. It’s being embraced by systems looking to build trust, empower patients, and create healthier outcomes across populations. Understanding these principles helps future leaders, like you, align their goals with where healthcare is heading.

The VHA Model: How Whole Health Is Being Implemented for Veterans

VA Whole Health has emerged as a powerful, system-wide approach to care—one that respects the individual experiences of Veterans and centers healing around purpose, meaning, and proactive well-being. The model is designed to shift the entire care experience, starting long before a medical appointment and continuing well beyond it.

This approach includes multiple layers from personal discovery to clinical care, each reinforcing the idea that wellness is personal, multidimensional, and actionable. Here’s how it’s being brought to life:

The Pathway

This first stage helps Veterans reconnect with what matters to them before diving into treatment or medical decisions. The process begins with non-clinical peer support and guided self-reflection.

• Veterans meet with trained peer facilitators
• They complete a Personal Health Inventory (PHI)
• They identify goals, values, and life purpose to guide their care

Well-Being Programs

To support sustainable health, the VA offers ongoing education and integrative services. Veterans gain skills, access, and coaching to support lifelong self-care.

• Lifestyle education: nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress resilience
• Covered services like acupuncture, tai chi, chiropractic, and yoga
• Ongoing health coaching to reinforce behavior change and motivation

Whole Health Clinical Care

When Veterans enter clinical settings, their care is shaped by everything they’ve already defined: goals, values, and priorities. This creates deeper relationships and better outcomes.

Interdisciplinary care teams use Whole Health principles to inform treatment planning. Clinicians are trained in relationship-centered communication and support care that aligns with the patient’s personal mission. It’s a model that honors the full person and leads from purpose, not just protocol.

What’s Working? A Look at Whole Health Results

More than 2 million Veterans have engaged with Whole Health programming across the VA system, and early signs point to meaningful change. Veterans who participate report greater engagement in their care, increased feelings of empowerment, and higher satisfaction with their overall health journey. These are outcomes that speak directly to what Whole Health sets out to do: support individuals in living fuller, more connected lives.

While the foundation is promising, researchers are continuing to study how Whole Health influences key system-wide metrics. That includes cost avoidance, health equity outcomes, and long-term well-being across diverse populations. The goal isn’t just to reduce symptoms—it’s to support thriving. To measure that, new tools are being developed that focus on psychosocial health, life roles, and personal purpose.

What the Research Is Starting to Show

Some of the most encouraging early findings include:

• Increased engagement in care plans and personal health decisions
• Improved satisfaction with both clinical care and wellness support
• Greater sense of meaning and connection reported by participants
• Ongoing studies evaluating cost efficiency, equity, and long-term resilience

As this data grows, it strengthens the case for expanding Whole Health across healthcare systems. It also reinforces what many leaders already believe: when care centers on the whole person, outcomes change, for the better.

From VA to the Nation: The Broader Impact of Whole Health

What began inside the VA is now catching attention everywhere, from academic institutions to public health departments to private hospital networks. The Whole Health model has proven that care centered on purpose, meaning, and prevention works, and systems across the country are starting to explore how to make it their own. Policymakers, educators, and healthcare leaders are taking notice.

Whole Health is already being applied in civilian settings—from primary care clinics and corporate wellness programs to medical schools and community health initiatives. Its framework supports culturally responsive, equitable care by starting with what matters to each person. That makes it scalable, adaptable, and increasingly urgent in today’s healthcare climate.

Why Now Is the Time to Lead the Shift

For Whole Health to expand meaningfully, it needs trained leaders, those who understand systems, human behavior, and the deeper purpose behind healthcare itself. This cultural transformation requires skilled administrators, bold educators, and mission-driven clinicians who can bring the model to life across organizations.

The need is clear: training programs must prepare leaders to operationalize Whole Health at scale. That includes systems-level thinking, interprofessional collaboration, and personal transformation. The model is ready. The momentum is real. Now is the time to step into a role that shapes the future of care.

SCU’s DrWHL: Built for Change-Makers

If you’re inspired by the VA’s groundbreaking Whole Health model and ready to lead a similar transformation in your own setting, we built the Doctor of Whole Health Leadership (DrWHL) at Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) with you in mind. It’s the only doctoral program in the nation focused entirely on preparing leaders to advance Whole Health across systems, organizations, and communities.

This program is practical, flexible, and designed for working professionals. Whether you’re a clinician, administrator, educator, or program builder, you’ll graduate with the skills and confidence to design and lead wellness-driven care models that make a real difference.

Highlights of the DrWHL Program

• Developed by pioneers in Whole Health and systems change
• Designed for experienced professionals ready to lead with impact
• 2 years and 4 months, mostly online with four in-person weekend intensives
• Includes a personalized Capstone Project that brings your vision to life

The curriculum builds deep leadership skills in areas like policy, interprofessional collaboration, and strategic system transformation. And just as importantly, it’s personally transformative, with emphasis on self-care, reflection, and community building.

Eligible for federal financial aid and VA education benefits, this is a program that respects your career, your mission, and your time.

Learn more here: Doctor of Whole Health Leadership at SCU

Turn Vision Into Action with SCU

VA Whole Health has shown what’s possible when care prioritizes purpose, connection, and the whole person. The model’s impact continues to grow across systems, communities, and disciplines—and it’s setting the tone for what modern healthcare can and should look like. This transformation needs leaders who understand the mission and are ready to carry it forward.

At SCU, our Doctor of Whole Health Leadership is built for that exact purpose. We’re here to help you lead change with clarity, confidence, and skill. If you’re ready to make an impact, take a look at our admission requirements and apply today. 

FAQs

What is VA Whole Health, and how is it different from traditional care?

It’s a patient-centered approach that focuses on what matters to the individual, not just what’s the matter. It integrates personal goals, lifestyle, and well-being into every aspect of care.

Are there measurable outcomes from VA Whole Health programs?

Yes. Early results show increased patient engagement, higher satisfaction, and signs of improved well-being and reduced healthcare costs.

Why is Whole Health important for the future of healthcare?

It’s a scalable model that supports preventive, personalized, and equitable care, offering a powerful blueprint for system-wide transformation.

How long is the Doctor of Whole Health Leadership program at SCU?

The program is 2 years and 4 months (7 terms), with online coursework, four in-person weekend intensives, and a Capstone Project that applies your training in the real world.

Can I apply if I haven’t completed a fellowship?

Yes. We offer a dedicated track for experienced administrators, educators, and clinicians who haven’t completed a fellowship but bring strong leadership backgrounds.