As we approach Veterans Day, Carolina experts bring a wealth of knowledge on veteran health, well-being and innovative programs and policies that improve the lives of those who have served. They can discuss a variety of topics including:

• Veteran mental health, well-being and suicide prevention, including policy solutions to improve outcomes
• Post traumatic stress disorder among veterans and military members
• Food insecurity among military families and solutions to increase food access
• Preventing military family maltreatment and promoting family well-being
• Traumatic brain injuries and its treatment among veterans and military members, including concussions testing
• Nursing educational pathways for veterans and military members to offer career growth and help reduce the nursing shortage
• Military surgery and efforts enhance surgical training and care
• War and medicine, including the use of psychiatric medications in the military
• Carolina's efforts to support military affiliated students

To schedule an interview, please send topic(s) you'd like to cover or names of experts you'd like to speak with to [email protected].

Experts

Jocelyn Chua, PhD, a professor of anthropology, explores the complex relationships between war, medicine, and the U.S. military by examining the U.S. military's increased reliance on psychiatric medications. Her research explores how medications commonly used in American life become tools within global counterinsurgency efforts and examines the impact on soldiers' lives and experiences as they use these drugs in combat settings.

Todd Jensen, PhD, MSW, was a faculty member at the UNC School of Social Work before joining the School of Education in 2024. His research is centered on child and human development. He is a faculty fellow at the Carolina Population Center, Fellow of the Society for Social Work and Research, and deputy editor of the Journal of Family Theory & Review, and an active member of the National Council on Family Relations. He is happy to highlight the work he and his colleagues have done in the areas of family maltreatment prevention and well-being promotion among military-connected families (particularly the Air Force).

Dr. Daryhl Johnson, MD, MPH is the medical director of the UNC Trauma Program. His program helps military surgeons and other care providers better prepare to treat traumatic injuries, such as gunshot wounds, burns and more, and ultimately save lives. He can provide insight on military surgery and the specialized needs of patients.

Krysta Gougler-Reeves was part of the team that brought a Women, Infant and Children (WIC) office to Fort Liberty. She can discuss food insecurity among military families, redemption of public service benefits and food access solutions.

Dr. Shawn Kane, MD, FAAFP, FACSM, is a medical doctor with clinical interests in veterans' health and primary care of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He's also the chief medical officer of the Transforming Health and Resilience in Veterans (THRIVE) program, which aims to treat traumatic brain injuries and related health conditions as well as promote overall wellness for veterans and first responders.

Rebecca Kitzmiller, PhD, MHR, RN, BC, is an is an Associate Professor and former Army Nurse who coordinates the military initiative. She can discuss the UNC School of Nursing's Military Pathway, which supports Armed Forces Veterans and Active Duty service members in obtaining an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Karen McCulloch, PT, PhD, MS, FAPTA, FACSM, NCS(E) has spent years developing specialized concussion testing protocols for service members, who face unique physical and cognitive demands, unlike civilians. Traditional concussion tests didn't capture the complexity of military tasks, so McCulloch's team created more dynamic testing scenarios. She can discuss this new approach and the best ways to prevent concussions among military members.

Jason Mihalik, a professor of Exercise and Sport Science and director of the Matthew Gfeller Center, is available to discuss treating chronic traumatic brain injuries in veterans, concussion care on the front lines, and Carolina's partnerships with active-duty service member populations.

Vaughn Mamlin Upshaw, DrPH, EdD, MPH, is the principal investigator of the Building Veteran Healthy Communities Project. She can discuss veteran well-being and suicide prevention, including protective and risk factors at the individual, interpersonal, community and societal levels.

General Peggy Wilmoth, PhD, MSS, RN, FAAN, is a faculty member of the UNC School of Nursing. She was the first woman and nurse to serve as Deputy Surgeon General for the Army Reserve. Wilmoth can discuss challenges faced by military-affiliated patients when receiving healthcare and policy changes to support military-affiliated patients in better accessing care.

Carolina's support for military affiliated students

UNC-Chapel Hill received a gold ranking from the Military Friendly Schools survey, placing Carolina in the top tier among universities for providing support for military-affiliated students.

Carolina has a long history of supporting military-affiliated students, including active-duty military, student veterans and ROTC students. The Carolina Veterans Resource Center organizes this support by offering a community space for military-affiliated students and a variety of programs. One of those programs is Boot Print to Heel Print, an orientation program that helps veterans and active-duty military students throughout their first year.

Rob Palermo, director of the Carolina Veterans Resource Center can discuss support and resources available to military-affiliated students.

Lieutenant Colonel Lisa Klekowski, chair of the department of military science (Army) at UNC-Chapel Hill, is available to discuss UNC's Army ROTC opportunities, benefits of military service and cadets who will support Army 2030.

Major Matthew Angel, Associate Professor and Deputy Chair of the Department of Naval Science (Navy and Marine Corps) at UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke, and North Carolina State is available to discuss UNC's Naval ROTC opportunities, benefits of military service, and midshipmen who will support Marine Corps Force Design 2030 and Navy Force Design 2045.