leadership role in reshaping the education of future health care professionals to help meet the complex scope of
the nation’s health care delivery system. It is the intent of VA to maintain its long-standing practice of effective
affiliations with educational institutions for the purposes of contributing to continued excellence in VA patient
care and conducting joint academic programs that address health manpower needs throughout VA and the nation.
An affiliation agreement promotes common standards for patient care, resident and student education,
research, and staff appointments. The parties to the affiliation agreement also seek to avoid duplication of
academic assets. The parties enter into this affiliation in a spirit of mutual benefit to be achieved through an
equitable contribution of resources. The affiliation agreement is crucial to the partnership because it forms the
philosophical and, in some cases, the legal basis for numerous specific agreements that may be executed between
components of the affiliate and VA.
In entering into any agreements, VA and the affiliate have a responsibility to comply with federal laws and
VA policies concerning conflicts of interest. The existence of an affiliation agreement does not guarantee that VA
and the affiliate will enter into additional agreements. However, some institutions may have other agreements
including contracts, memoranda of understanding, or other written agreements.
TERMS OF AGREEMENT
Ultimate responsibility for the control and operation of VA facilities and programs rests with VA. Ultimate
responsibility for academic education rests with school of medicine and its affiliated institutions. Through this
affiliation agreement, a partnership is created to enable enhanced patient care, education, and research.
The partner institutions comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975,
and all related regulations, and assures that they do not, and will not, discriminate against any person on the basis
of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age under any program or activity receiving federal financial
assistance.
Nothing in this agreement is intended to be contrary to state or federal laws. In the event of conflict between
terms of this agreement and any applicable state or federal law, that state or federal law will supersede the terms
of this agreement. In the event of conflict between state and federal law, federal law will govern.
When providing professional services covered by this agreement, protection of faculty members (except those
providing services under a contract with VA) and trainees of the affiliated institution from personal liability while
at a VA health care facility will be that which is provided under the Federal Employees Liability Reform and Tort
Compensation Act 28 U.S.C.2679 (b)-(d).
RESPONSIBILITIES
1. The school of medicine has the following responsibilities:
A. Operate and manage the school of medicine and its associated residency programs and assume overall
responsibility for the educational programs.
B. Maintain accreditation by the nationally recognized accreditation entities, the Liaison Committee for
Medical Education (LCME) for medical students and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
(ACGME) for medical residents.
C. Encourage school of medicine faculty to accept positions as VA medical staff and assure that academic
standards are met.
VA FORM 10-0094a
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