The 2025 Veterans Health Make-a-thon, part of the Veterans Health Venture Studio (VHVS), aims to enhance Veteran care through innovative solutions. Led by Dr. Indra Sandal, this program builds on the success of the 2025 Veterans Health Hackathon. Selected teams, including VA employees and Veterans, will develop projects that address critical healthcare challenges. Eugene Fisco, a participant and Air Force Veteran, emphasized the collaborative spirit that fosters creativity and improves patient outcomes.

The Make-a-thon is supported by partners like The American Legion and Microsoft, which provides training and mentorship. The VHVS focuses on People, Technology, and Community Development, and aims to create a pipeline of innovative projects. After the Hackathon, 17 teams were chosen to advance their ideas into prototypes, with some set to enter an Accelerator program for further development.

Among the notable projects are Bravo Zulu Health, which consolidates Veteran appointments, and SPEED Access Care, which uses AI to screen for high-risk symptoms. The Make-a-thon is a crucial step in aligning leadership with innovative projects, preparing teams for pilot testing, and ultimately improving healthcare for Veterans. Over 4,980 hours of training have already been provided to participants.