Caring for those who have Served

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Patricia Watson from the National Center for PTSD and Dr. Christopher Loftis from the VA Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention about how vital it is for behavior health care providers serving Veterans or Veterans’ loved ones to become more familiar with military culture and lifestyle. Dr. Patricia Watson has been a clinical psychologist at the National Center for PTSD since 1998. Prior to that, she was an active duty Navy psychologist for eight years. Dr. Watson received her doctoral degree from Catholic University and completed a postgraduate fellowship in pediatric psychology at Harvard Medical School. She has co-authored the VA/DoD online course, “Military Culture: Core Competencies for Healthcare Professionals,” as well as multiple educational materials and manuals related to resilience, support, and treatment for active duty service members, Veterans, and first responders.Dr. Christopher Loftis is a licensed clinical psychologist and consultant with more than 15 years of policy, program management, and practice experience in the nonprofit, commercial, and government sectors. He is currently the national director for VA/DoD Mental Health Collaboration within the Veterans Health Administration’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. Together, Drs. Watson and Loftis help listeners better connect with Veterans through awareness of the military experience.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Christopher Loftis from the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Dr. Patricia Watson from the National Center for PTSD about the importance of screening for military history and experience, and how to do so.Dr. Christopher Loftis is a licensed clinical psychologist and consultant with more than 15 years of policy, program management, and practice experience in the nonprofit, commercial, and government sectors. He is currently the national director for VA/DoD Mental Health Collaboration within the Veterans Health Administration’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. He has extensive knowledge of health policy and the health care delivery system, including administration and delivery, legislative policies and financing of private and public health services, the Military Health System, and Medicaid and Medicare programs. Dr. Patricia Watson has been a clinical psychologist at the National Center for PTSD since 1998. Prior to that, she was an active duty Navy psychologist for eight years. Dr. Watson received her doctoral degree from Catholic University and completed a postgraduate fellowship in pediatric psychology at Harvard Medical School. She has co-authored the VA/DoD online course “Military Culture: Core Competencies for Healthcare Professionals,” as well as multiple educational materials and manuals related to resilience, support, and treatment for active duty service members, Veterans, and first responders.Drs. Loftis and Watson explain to listeners with why screening for military history is essential in providing health care, along with guidance on how to best do so.Additional Resources:•The Military Health History Pocket Card developed by the VA Office of Academic Affiliations https://www.va.gov/OAA/pocketcard/ •The Have You Ever Served Initiative by the American Academy of Nursing, which also has information and materials that can guide taking a military history. https://www.haveyoueverserved.com/

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Jay Shore from the VA’s Office of Rural Health and discuss providing services to rural Native American Veterans. Dr. Shore discusses considerations with respect to Rural Native Veterans seeking help; tips for engagement in care; and essential resources and programs for health care providers who provide care for Rural Native Veterans.Dr. Shore is a population specialist at the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Rural Health’s Veterans Rural Health Resource Center in Salt Lake City. Dr. Shore is also a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Family Medicine, School of Medicine and Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health, at the Colorado School of Public Health. His VA career has focused on improving both the access and quality of care for Rural Native Veterans, including projects focused on telemental health services for PTSD, suicide prevention in tribal communities, and health care navigation. Join Dr. Shore to learn more about providing quality care to Rural Native American Veterans.

In this episode, we talk about providing behavioral health care services to Veterans with LGBTQ+ identities with Dr. Michael Kauth, co-director of VA’s South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) and director of the LGBTQ+ Health Program, Patient Care Services. Dr. Kauth details important considerations to ensure equitable health care and to promote an affirming, welcoming environment in the health care setting, and provides resources and training to support the work of behavioral health care providers. Dr. Michael R. Kauth is a clinical psychologist and director of the LGBTQ+ Health Program, Veterans Health Administration, a role he shares with Dr. Jillian Shipherd. The LGBTQ+ Health Program oversees two health care policies, clinician training, and the LGBTQ+ Point of Contact Program, which includes the facility LGBTQ+ Veteran care coordinators and LGBTQ+ VISN leads. Dr. Kauth is also a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine, where he teaches a course on LGBTQ+ health and guest lectures. He has published more than 80 journal articles, four books, and 17 book chapters on LGBT Veteran health, sexual health, implementation of educational interventions, and the evolution of same-sex attraction. Listen to this episode and hear what Dr. Kauth has to share about providing equitable care for all Veterans.

In this episode, we discuss the PTSD Consultation Program and Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program. Drs. Norman and Matarazzo explain what health care providers might expect when they call the consultation programs.Dr. Sonya Norman is the director of the PTSD Consultation Program for the National Center for PTSD and professor of psychiatry at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. She is a clinical psychologist and a researcher in the treatment of PTSD and addictions, applications of prolonged exposure therapy, implementation of evidence-based treatments for PTSD, and novel treatments to address trauma-related guilt, shame, and moral injury. Dr. Norman recently served as a member of the VA/DoD PTSD Clinical Practice Guideline workgroup and has published over 150 publications related to PTSD and associated problems. Dr. Bridget Matarazzo is the director of Clinical Services at VA’s Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center MIRECC for Suicide Prevention. She is co-director of VA’s Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program and leads a team that provides implementation support for multiple national VA suicide prevention programs, such as REACH VET and the VA Suicide Risk Identification Strategy. She is also an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.Don’t miss what Drs. Norman and Matarazzo have to say about calling for consult. Where to find more information about these programs:•PTSD Consultation Program: Find a link to our page at ptsd.va.gov or email us at ptsdconsult@va.gov and we will send info.•Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program: Visit our website at https://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn19/consult or email us at srmconsult@va.gov

In this episode, we explore the service of women in the military. We review how their military roles have evolved over time, the barriers they face during and after military service, and the ways they maintain resilience. Dr. Miller discusses unique influences on women’s mental health, and VA reproductive mental health services and resources.Dr. Laura Miller is the medical director of Reproductive Mental Health for the Veterans Health Administration. In this role, she heads the VA Reproductive Mental Health Consultation Program and contributes to women’s mental health training initiatives. She has developed nationally award-winning women’s mental health services and educational programs and has participated in numerous women’s mental health policy initiatives. She has authored more than 80 articles and book chapters related to women’s mental health. She has devoted her career to improving the mental health of women through clinical care, education, and research.Check out this podcast to learn from Dr. Miller’s expertise on caring for women Veterans.