Syracuse VA Medical Center established June 14, 1953, is a 106-bed acute-care medical facility, providing comprehensive medical, surgical, mental health, and long-term care services through a full range of inpatient/outpatient programs. This also includes a comprehensive education and medical research program. Located at 800 Irving Avenue on Syracuse University Hill, Syracuse VA is a “teaching facility,” affiliated with State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University; and, through this collaboration, has trained thousands of physicians, nurses, and other health care providers over its 54-year history. Over 750 University residents, interns, and students are trained at the Syracuse VA Medical Center each year.

Syracuse VA operates eight Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Massena, Carthage, Cortland/Ithaca, Auburn, Rome, Oswego, and Binghamton, serving 13 counties in central New York, which provide primary care and mental health services. Additionally, it operates a Community Care Center, located at 1031 East Fayette Street, about one mile away from the main facility. The Community Care Center houses several outpatient mental health programs including a Community Day Program, Mental Health Intensive Case Management Program, Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Program, and Vocational Services.

Syracuse VA has a comprehensive Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Program, specifically designed to support the returning combat veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq. It is also the location of the Polytrauma Network Site, serving these returning combat veterans, who have been referred by Level 1 facilities. A new Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Center is currently in the design phase and is scheduled for construction beginning in fiscal year 2008, with a completion date of fiscal year 2011. The Syracuse facility is the principal referral center in Network 2 for neurosurgery and urological renal stone treatment, serving all of upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania.

Syracuse VA Medical Center is one of five VA medical centers (Albany, Bath, Buffalo/Batavia, and Canandaigua) that make up VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York (Network 2).