The Highland Drive Division of VAPHS is located off of Washington Boulevard near the Highland Park Bridge. Highland Drive includes 79 inpatient behavioral health beds as well as a variety of outpatient clinics, research programs and support services.

Outpatient programs include the Center for Treatment of Addictive Disorders, the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder clinic, and a Regional Center for Treatment of Former Prisoners of War.

Other outpatient services include dental, orthotics, primary care, audiology & speech pathology, and physical therapy. An Adult Day Health Care provides support for veterans who want to remain at home and their caregivers.

An expanded Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom clinic is based at the Highland Drive Division for our heroes returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. For more information please visit our seamless transition page.

Specialized research programs located at Highland Drive include the following four National Research Centers of Excellence:

• Center for Health Research Equity and Promotion
• Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center
• Human Engineering Research Laboratories
• Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center

Following the construction of several new buildings at the Heinz and University Drive Divisions, Highland Drive will be identified for closure. No services provided at VAPHS will be discontinued as a result of the construction and Highland Drive will not be closed for several years until all of the new construction is complete. For more information please visit our major construction page.

HISTORY

Construction of a neuropsychiatric hospital authorized by President Harry S. Truman on March 22, 1947, began in the spring of 1950. Much cutting and filling of earth was required to suit the layout of the hospital buildings, and over 650,000 cubic yards of overburden and 6,000 tons of coal were removed from the site. The total cost of construction for this hospital was $19,447,176, part of which was raised with Series E War Bonds sold by Mrs. F.P. Tarnapowicz ("Tarney"). The original campus included five patient treatment buildings, roads, parking lots, sidewalks, and a 500,000 gallon water tower.

The Leech Farm Road Hospital was dedicated on November 29, 1953, and the first patient was admitted two days later. The original hospital had 951 operating beds and an average daily census of 900 patients. Early research studies beginning in 1954, included physiological, psychological, and sociological aspects of schizophrenia and problems in the area of neurological disorders.

In 1975 a ceremony dedicated the name change of the hospital from Leech Farm Road to Highland Drive. The Highland Drive Division is a campus-style facility composed of more than 20 buildings on 168 acres. Throughout its history Highland Drive served as a stand-alone VA Medical Center with medical and surgical services. On November 1, 1996, the Highland Drive VAMC consolidated with the University Drive VAMC and the H. John Heinz III Progressive Care Center to become the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System under one management.