January 30, 2012
COLUMBUS, Ohio – As part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Joining Forces initiative, The Ohio State University Medical Center and Ohio State’s College of Medicine, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) recently committed to the next generation of doctors and enhancing education provided at medical schools and research facilities to ensure military heroes receive the highest quality care.
Recognizing veterans and their families’ sacrifice and commitment, Ohio State’s Medical Center pledges to apply its uniquely integrated missions in patient care, education and research to train the nation’s physicians to meet veterans and their families’ unique and personalized healthcare needs, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
“We are honored to participate in the White House Joining Forces initiative to address the healthcare needs of military service members and veterans and their families,” Dr. Charles Lockwood, dean of Ohio State’s College of Medicine.
“Our goal is to show those who have responded to the nation’s call to war that their country is there for them, and will continue to support them,” adds Dr. Bryan Martin, associate dean at the College.
“I’m inspired to see our nation’s medical schools step up to address this pressing need for our veterans and military families. By directing some of our brightest minds, our most cutting-edge research, and our finest teaching institutions toward our military families, they’re ensuring that those who have served our country receive the first-rate care that they have earned,” says First Lady Michelle Obama.
Together, Ohio State’s Medical Center and College of Medicine, the AAMC and AACOM have committed to enriching medical education to ensure that physicians are aware of the unique clinical challenges associated with caring for this group; conducting new research and developing clinical trials related to PTSD and TBI to get a better understanding of treatments for these conditions; sharing information and best practices through a collaborative web forum created by the AAMC; and expanding knowledge necessary for improvements in healthcare and wellness for military service members, veterans, and their families.
“Faculty at Ohio State’s College of Medicine are training medical students to have a basic understanding of traumatic brain injury suffered during deployment and will leverage the students’ knowledge to provide the highest quality of personalized care to military service members and veterans,” says Martin, who is also a combat veteran of the first Gulf War.
First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden created Joining Forces to bring Americans together to recognize, honor and take action to support veterans and military families as they serve our country and throughout their lives. The initiative aims to educate, challenge and spark action from all sectors of society to ensure veterans and military families the support they have earned and deserve. The initiative focuses on key priority areas – employment, education and wellness – while raising awareness about the service, sacrifice and needs of America’s veterans and military families.
More information is available at: www.JoiningForces.gov.
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