San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference to attract hundreds with focus on improving military psychological health

Media contact: Steven Lee, [email protected], 210-450-3823

On-site contact: Julie Collins, [email protected], 210-218-8746

Content by Julie Collins

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 14, 2024 - Post-traumatic stress disorder is a signature wound of post-9/11 wars, affecting hundreds of thousands of U.S. military service members and veterans. On Oct. 22-23, San Antonio will host an international gathering focused on the latest advances in treating PTSD and its commonly co-occurring conditions and how more of our warfighters can be led to recovery.

The Ninth Annual San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference, presented by the STRONG STAR Consortium and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio), will be held downtown at the Briscoe Western Art Museum with a near-capacity crowd expected, of about 400 registrants.

As the only major scientific gathering of its type, the conference draws a worldwide audience of researchers, clinicians, leaders and policymakers in the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and others from academia and the private sector. Numerous military personnel, veterans and community members with an interest in military psychological health also join the proceedings, as do students and professional trainees.

As field leaders and innovators present the latest research findings, the conference provides an ideal opportunity to learn the state of the science, identify current opportunities and challenges, and discuss what is needed to propel the science forward for the benefit of service members, veterans and their families.

Sure to kick things off with a thought-provoking discussion is first-day keynote speaker MJ Hegar, who will deliver her popular "Profiles in Resilience" address. In an interactive, fireside chat style of presentation, she will share some of her incredible experiences piloting rescue missions as a member of the U.S. Air Force in Afghanistan, as well as some of the unique battles and challenges she faced as a female service member.

With his keynote address on Wednesday, national suicide expert Craig Bryan, PsyD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral health at Ohio State University, will challenge the group to reconsider what it thinks it knows about suicide and to adopt a paradigm shift to help better understand and prevent it.

Other program highlights include diverse topics related to the treatment of PTSD and its common comorbidities, such as the following:

• Modifications to PTSD treatment to make it more accessible and effective
• Innovations in treating PTSD, traumatic brain injury, tinnitus and suicide risk
• Biomarkers for sleep disorders
• Considerations for culturally responsive treatment
• Unique challenges and perspectives of women in the military
• The use of technology both in clinical care and provider training

"This conference is a tremendous opportunity to hear the latest progress in addressing the complex issues facing military men and women impacted by trauma," said Alan Peterson, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at UT Health San Antonio and director of the STRONG STAR Consortium. "Attendees also appreciate this chance to dialogue with their peers not only about where we've come but also about where we're going. Where does the science need to move from here, and how can we best accomplish that for the benefit of service members and veterans?"

The conference begins each day at 8 a.m. and runs the full day. For more information on the San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference, visit www.combatPTSDconference.com. The full agenda is available at https://combatptsdconference.com/agenda/.

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) is one of the country's leading health science universities and is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. With missions of teaching, research, patient care and community engagement, its schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions, graduate biomedical sciences and public health have graduated more than 43,886 alumni who are leading change, advancing their fields and renewing hope for patients and their families throughout South Texas and the world. To learn about the many ways "We make lives better®," visit UTHealthSA.org.

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