Support Groups

The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center offers a wide variety of support groups for both veterans and family members. Talk with a social worker in your Prime Care Clinic for more information.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
This group meets every Wednesday, 7 p.m., Room 6C-105. Contact Person:  Billy M. (Bo) Cook, (713) 791-1414, ext. 6987.

Amputee Support Group
This group meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month, 3 - 4 p.m. in Nursing Unit 2A Dining Room. For more information, contact group facilitators Anna Bracero, RKT at (713) 794-7816 or Betty Baer, OTR at (713) 794-7793.

Better Breather’s Club
The group meets the last Wednesday of every month, 1:30 p.m. in Room 3C-371, Home Oxygen Clinic. Group facilitator: Paula Denman, (713) 794-8979

Breast Cancer Support Group
This group meets the last Tuesday of each month, 12 p.m., in the Cancer Center Conference Room, 4C-345.  Contact group facilitators:  Magdalena Ramirez, LCSW, (713) 791-1414, ext. 5287 or Shirley LaDay Smith, RN, MSN, (713) 794-7926.

Cancer Support Group
The group meets the second Tuesday of every month, 2-3 p.m. in the Cancer Center Family Room, 4C-365. Group facilitators: Maria Lozano-Vasquez, LMSW, (713) 791-1414, ext. 5273 and Chaplain Douglas Ensminger, D.Min., (713) 794-7200

Depression and Bipolar Support Group
This group meets every Monday, 8:30 – 10 a.m., in Room 6B-111.  Contact (713) 600-1131 for more information.

Fibromylgia Education/Support Group (Restricted membership—Call Dr. Tan for information)
The group meets every Monday, 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., in Room 5C-215. Group facilitator:  Gabriel Tan, PhD, ABPP (713) 794-8794

Hepatitis C Support Group
The group meets the first Friday of every month, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. in Primecare Clinic 5 (NASA). Group facilitators: Garfield Norris, (713) 791-1414 ext. 6189 and Jodi M. Francis, RN, ext. 3394 or 3656.

HIV Support/Educational Group
The group meets every Tuesday, 2 p.m. in Clinic 4, Room 1A-442. Group facilitator: Kathy Molitor, (713) 791-1414, ext. 6177 and Belinda Rainer, ext. 5292

Mended Hearts Support Group
This group meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month, 11 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., in Nursing Unit 2A Dining Room.  Contact group facilitator Patricia Suarez, LCSW at (713) 791-1414, ext. 6101.

MS Self-Help Group
The group meets the second Wednesday of every month, 2 - 3:30 p.m. in SCI Dayroom, NU1B, Room 119. Group facilitators: Lisa Whipple, LCSW, (713) 794-7951 and Fe Funtanilla, RN, (713) 791-1414, ext. 4559

Pain Coping Skills Training Group
The group meets every Tuesday, 1 p.m., in Room 5C-215. Group facilitator:  Gabriel Tan, PhD., ABPP (713) 794-8794

Pain Education Group
The group meets every Wednesday, 2 p.m. in Room 5C-215. Group facilitator:  Gabriel Tan, PhD, ABPP (713) 794-8794

Pain Relaxation Training Group
The group meets every Wednesday, 1 p.m., in Room 5C-215. Group facilitator: Gabriel Tan, PhD, ABPP (713) 794-8794

Parkinson's Disease Education/Support Group
Contact group facilitators:  Naomi Nelson, RN, Ph.D., (713) 794-8938 or Lisa Whipple, LCSW, (713) 794-7951 for a monthly schedule and meeting location.

Prostate Cancer Support Group
The group meets the third Wednesday of every month, 10 – 11 a.m., in the Cancer Center Conference Room, 4C-345.  Group facilitator:  Tonjala Seals, (713) 791-1414 ext. 6227

Stroke Support Group
This group meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, 3 – 4 p.m., in the Nursing Unit 2A Dining Room. Contact group facilitators Kathryn Kertz, OTR at (713) 791-1414, ext. 4192 or Laura Lawhon, KTR at (713) 791-1414, ext. 4241 or Lisa Whipple, LCSW, at (713) 794-7951.

Vet to Vet Support Group
This peer education and support group meets every Wednesday, 6 – 7 p.m., in Room 6B-117 and every Thursday, 9 – 10 a.m., in Room 6B-117 and 11 a.m. – noon in Room 6C-166.   For more information, contact Dr. Sara Allison at (713) 791-1414 ext. 6729 or Dr. Cristy Gamez-Galka at (713) 791-1414 ext. 4378.

Point of Contact: VHAHOU Public Affairs