USF College of Nursing to Host National Conference on Veterans’ Health, Education & Research
Tampa, FL (Oct. 15, 2013) – Top nursing leaders and scientists from around the country will meet to discuss health needs for veterans, service members and their families Monday, Oct. 21, at a daylong conference hosted by the University of South Florida College of Nursing. A pre-conference will be held from Noon to 4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 20. The 2nd Annual JOINING FORCES TO RESTORE LIVES: Nursing Education and Research in Veterans Health conference will be held at the Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS) in downtown Tampa.
Keynote speaker, Lieutenant General Martin R. Steele, retired from the U.S Marine Corps, is associate vice president for USF Veterans Research and executive director for USF World Military Partnerships. As a combat veteran with more than 34 years of service, Lt. Gen. Steele is a nationally recognized expert on the integration of national power, cutting-edge policies and programs for veterans.
Additional conference guest speakers include Brian Anderson, a former Green Beret, 10-year Army veteran and director of the Pasco County Veteran Services and Stand Down program, and Peter Burch, a USF nurse practitioner student and retired Major with 34 years of military service with the Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and Army Reserve. Both speakers will discuss their deployment experiences, and the challenges often faced by returning veterans in transitioning to civilian life.
The 2nd annual conference focuses on nursing education and research designed to meet the needs of veterans, service members and their families. It is part of USF’s commitment to support the Joining Forces campaign, a comprehensive national initiative to mobilize all sectors of society to support and honor America’s service members and their families. Attendees will include global nursing executives, scientists, faculty, researchers, educators, advanced practice nurses and registered nurses interested in supporting veterans’ health education and research.
“The USF College of Nursing is a national leader in educational preparation and nursing research that addresses health care issues unique to service members, veterans and their families,” said Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD, RN, WHNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN, senior associate vice president of USF Health and dean of the College of Nursing.
The pre-conference course on Oct. 20, will focus on Transforming Tragedy: Finding Growth Following Life’s Traumas. Internationally-known psychologist, author, and lecturer Edward J. Hickling, PsyD, will speak about causes and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder – information applicable to the clinical care of veterans and civilians who have experienced traumatic events, community disasters, physical assaults, and other tragic events.
Dr. Hickling, a clinical psychologist for Capital Psychological Associate, is a master therapist who has practiced for over 30 years. He has held positions at Veterans Administration Medical Centers and hospitals around the country.
Last month, USF was one of nine institutions across the country awarded funding by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, to create a Veterans’ Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing Program. USF Nursing has also extended its Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) research internationally after the behavioral technique for treating post-traumatic stress disorder demonstrated promising results in the United States.
Both projects are part of the USF College of Nursing’s ongoing strategic priority known as RESTORE LIVES, which focuses on evidence-based research and education programs to train a nursing workforce that can help veterans and service members overcome psychological stress and other combat-related health problems.
For event and registration information, please visit the USF College of Nursing website: http://cme.hsc.usf.edu/joiningforces/
-USF Health-
USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician’s Group. The University of South Florida is a global research university ranked 50th in the nation by the National Science Foundation for both federal and total research expenditures among all U.S. universities. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu.
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