COMMITTEE

American Security might also be helpful. Assessment and intervention would need to begin long before transition/TAP. An ongoing study of “The Social Determinants of Hate” being undertaken between the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) and the University of Pittsburg may help shed light on key issues and possible solutions. Dr. Stone will develop a blog on this issue which will also help the Committee focus next steps.

3. Mounting a Time-Sensitive Response to a Serious Threat to VA Research Programs:

As per the news story at this link https://prospect. org/health/va-research-verges-on-breakdownwithout-congressional-action/ the Justice Department is seeking to enforce a recently re-interpreted rule which would prohibit VA research from being conducted in partnership with private medical schools. Prominent VA researchers are reportedly leaving VA to steer clear of this. Congress is currently debating the VA Infrastructure Powers Exceptional Research (VIPER) Act of 2021 (H.R. 5721) which would remedy this problem but it’s not clear that it has the support needed to pass. The Committee voted unanimously to advocate for VIPER [and, with subsequent approval by GAP President, Cal Sumner, joined nearly 90 academic, medical, and scientific societies in co-signing a letter to Congressional leaders in support of its passage]. Dr. Kudler has agreed to develop a blog on this issue.

4. Partnering with the Society of Uniformed Services Psychiatrists (SUSP) (a District Branch of the APA) to Help Military Psychiatrists Transition to Civilian Life and Careers:

Committee Members Drs. Ritchie and Bradley recently provided a panel discussion for SUSP to address this issue. How might our Committee leverage its unique military and civilian experience to help ensure a “good landing” as military psychiatrists transition to civilian life? Suggestions included creating a mentorship program for SUSP members and recruiting one or more early career DoD psychiatrist(s) to join the Committee(see

Item 8, below). Another idea is to offer a GAP grand rounds presentation at Walter Reed and/ or other DoD training sites (Dr. Benedek’s “Global Grand Rounds”? Suggested topics included the History of GAP (including the role of WWII military psychiatrists in developing the DSM) and lessons learned in OEF/OIF/OND. Dr. Ritchie suggested that the Committee develop a formal letter to the SUSP President with request for distribution to all SUSP members proposing such projects.

5. Response to the War in Ukraine: Can the Committee, engage and support both Ukrainian and Russian clinicians as they endure the effects of war from their respective sides of the battleline? We have already shared highly valued CSTS fact sheets developed for this conflict and available in both Ukrainian and Russian. Dr. Kudler has been participating in weekly Town Hall meetings with Ukrainian and Russian psychotherapists since February and has submitted a presentation on that process to the next meeting of the International Psychoanalytic Association. The European Congress for Neuropsychology is among organizations providing training on TBI and other relevant issues. Dr. Benedek has provided training on Combat Stress Control for responders through Project ECHO with Dr. David Riggs of the Center for Deployment Psychology. The Dean of USU holds that sharing such expertise is a legitimate part of the school’s mission. Dr. Ritchie will check with the Borden Institute, publisher of a text she edited, Combat and Operational Behavioral Health, to see if it can be shared electronically with responders overseas. Dr. Stone noted that the nonprofit, MedGlobal ( https://medglobal.org ), has been training Ukrainian health professionals on treating survivors of trauma. Committee members will explore opportunities to provide further support and training. Dr. Eric Vermetten was mentioned as a possible partner in this.

6. A Video History of Military Psychiatry in OEF/ OIF/OND: Military historian Michael Doidge, Ph.D. and U.S. Army Major Aaron Wolfgang joined us to help address the challenge of creating a video history that would collect and disseminate key lessons learned in both the military and VA in the