The Keck School of Medicine of USC’s own Kevin Lohenry, Phd, PA-C, Director, Division of Physician Assistant Studies and former Physician Assistant Education Association President attended several events for the Joining Forces Initiative on Monday, January 9 and Tuesday, January 10, 2012. The events, hosted by Admiral Winnefeld, Vice Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the First Lady’s Joining Forces team aimed to bring together several representatives from all parts of the health professions to focus their attention on the various ways healthcare professionals can work together to educate members of their field when it comes to caring for wounded warriors and their families. Represented at the events were members speaking on behalf of the fields of medicine, physician assistant, and nursing, among others.
First Lady, Michelle Obama, addressed the attendees about the Initiative and spoke of the various issues that wounded warriors and their families encounter including, employment, education and wellness.
While the Joining Forces Initiative does embody several issues that wounded warriors and their families are faced with, the focus was primarily about ways to improve care throughout the country for military service members and veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Post-Deployment Depression.
The events included a reception at the former home of General Patton, a tour of the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) and culminated in a meeting at the White House where representatives from the health professions committed to make this issue a primary focus for their organizations.
Lohenry stated of his visit, "The National Intrepid Center of Excellence provided all of us with the opportunity to see what is possible in healing our wounded warriors from their invisible wounds of battle. I look forward to the PA profession providing tremendous help to these warriors and our nation's veterans."
The Physician Assistant Program is currently working on incorporating training into the curriculum that includes a half-day seminar in the spring. The training received in this seminar will enable students to recognize signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Post Deployment Depression allowing them to provide better care for their future patients.