Veterans’ Health Matters

In this episode, Dr. Terra Vincent-Hall, Senior Toxicologist at the Exposure Science Program, Health Outcomes Military Exposures, shares her expertise in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).  She discusses what PFAS are, various ways in which Veterans may have been exposed to PFAS, and steps healthcare providers can take to address any PFAS-related health concerns.  This discussion was reco...

In this episode, Dr. David Litke, Clinical Psychologist, shares his expertise in cognitive rehabilitation and treatment of military exposure related neurocognitive dysfunction as he discusses common neurocognitive concerns for Veterans with Gulf War Illness and possible treatments to explore. This discussion was recorded July 2023.   RESOURCES  Gulf War Illness Factsheet for Providers:  gulf-war-i...

Listen in to this episode of the Veterans Health Matters podcast to hear Danny McClung, Heath Physicist and Radiological Consultant for VA’s Post Deployment Health Services (PHDS), discuss radiation exposure incidents, the health implications of radiation exposure, as well as exposure-informed care and the resources available to Veterans.   RESOURCES VET-HOME portal https://vethome.va.gov/ VET-HOM...

Listen in to this episode of the Veterans Health Matters podcast to hear Danny McClung, Heath Physicist and Radiological Consultant for VA’s Post Deployment Health Services (PHDS), provides an overview of Radiation Exposure, the difference between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, the Ionizing Radiation Health Registry, as well as specific incidents and clean-up efforts.   RESOURCES VET-HOME po...

Listen in to this episode of the Veterans Health Matters podcast to hear Dr. Patricia Hastings, Chief Consultant for Health Outcomes Military Exposures, highlights the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry 2.0, why it was redesigned, how the redesign impacts Veterans, as well as how the redesign benefits Veterans who may have been exposed.   RESOURCES VET-HOME portal https://vethome.va.gov/...

  Listen in to this episode of the Veterans Health Matters podcast to hear Dr. Patricia Hastings, Chief Consultant for Health Outcomes Military Exposures, provide an overview of Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pits, where and when these exposures are most likely to occur, how they are detected, what mitigation or protective measures are taken, the health effects of exposure, and the resources avail...

Examine the recent History of Military Environmental Exposures from the Cold War to the PACT Act Listen in to this episode of the Veterans Health Matters podcast to hear Dr. Eric Shuping, Director of Operations for Health Outcomes Military Exposures, discuss the recent history of Military Environmental Exposures, including the Cold War, Vietnam, the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, and the War in...

Explore the History of Military Environmental Exposures from the early examples of infectious disease to the technological advancements of World War I Listen in to this episode of the Veterans Health Matters podcast to hear Dr. Eric Shuping, Director of Operations for Health Outcomes Military Exposures, provide an overview of Military Environmental Exposures, some early examples of infectious dise...

How are Chemical Warfare Agents managed and what care is exposure-informed care? Listen in to this episode of the Veterans Health Matters podcast to hear Dr. Eric Shuping, Director of Operations for Health Outcomes Military Exposures, explain the effective management and mitigation of Chemical Warfare Agents as well as the exposure-informed care for Veterans who may have been exposed.   RESOURCES...

What are Chemical Warfare Agents and the health risks associated with them? Listen in to this episode of the Veterans Health Matters podcast to hear Dr. Eric Shuping, Director of Operations for Health Outcomes Military Exposures, discuss Chemical Warfare Agents, their historical background, common misconceptions, and potential health risks.   RESOURCES VET-HOME portal https://vethome.va.gov/ VET-H...

How the Veterans Exposure Team – Health Outcomes Military Exposures (VET-HOME) program benefits Veterans and Healthcare Providers Listen in to this episode of the Veterans Health Matters podcast to hear Dr. Anisa Moore, Director of the VET-HOME program, highlight how the Veterans Exposure Team – Health Outcomes Military Exposures (VET-HOME) benefits Veterans and Healthcare Providers. It explains h...

Introduce Veterans to the Veterans Exposure Team – Health Outcomes Military Exposures (VET-HOME) program Listen in to this episode of the Veterans Health Matters podcast to hear Dr. Anisa Moore, Director of the VET-HOME program, provide an overview of the VET-HOME program and discuss the resources available to Veterans including the free telehealth evaluations, geographical accessibility, and envi...

Military Exposures and Women’s Health In this episode, Dr. Maheen Adamson, Research Director of the WRIISC Women’s Center, and Dr. Jennifer Jennings, Clinical Director of WRIISC Women, discuss the new WRIISC Women’s Center, how military and environmental exposures impact women’s health, and resources and tips for providers working with female veterans.   RE SOURCES WRIISC Women’s Operational and M...

Tips for Working with Veterans with Airborne Hazards Concerns In this episode, Dr. Anays Sotolongo, the Co-Director of the Airborne Hazards and Burn Pits Center of Excellence, discusses the airborne hazards commonly encountered during military service, and describes a new toolkit available to guide the treatment of Veterans with airborne hazard exposure concerns.    RESOURCES Email to request hard...

This podcast was recorded March 2023.  On August 1, 2024, the VA and U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) implemented updates to the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry. You can find more information about these updates at the following link here: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/burnpits/registry.asp Registry Exams: What Clinicians and Healthcare Staff Need to Know In this episode, D...

Quick Tips for Everyday Clinical Care of Veterans with Exposure Concerns In this episode, Dr. Drew Helmer, the Deputy Director of the Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety, joins Dr. Nicole Sullivan, Clinical Psychologist, to discuss tips for how clinicians, nurses, and healthcare providers can engage in every day clinical care of Veterans with exposure concerns.    RESOURCE...

Tips for How Clinicians Can Talk with Veterans about Military Exposures Tune into this episode to hear Dr. Lisa McAndrew discuss practical tips for communicating with Veterans about their military exposure concerns, including suggestions for how to respond to traditionally difficult to answer questions. For more information on exposures and communication techniques, visit: The War Related Illness...

How to Help Veterans with Military Exposures Receive the Benefits They Deserve Listen in to this episode of the Veterans Health Matters podcast to hear Dr. Katherine Bloeser, research scientist at the WRIISC and Assistant Professor of Social Work at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, discuss how providers can speak with Veterans about presumptive conditions for Veterans with mi...

An Introduction to the (WRIISC) War Related Illness and Injury Study Center In this episode, we welcome Dr. Helena Chandler, Acting Director of the NJ WRIISC, and welcome back Dr. Susan Santos, Director of Education and Risk Communication at the WRIISC, as they discuss the WRIISC including its nearly 20-year history and how WRIISC can best serve Veterans and their healthcare teams. To learn more a...

Wearable Technology Trends: What Gets Measured, Might Get Improved In this episode, Dr. Michael Falvo, Scientific Director of the Airborne Hazards and Burn Pits Center of Excellence, and Matthew Watson, Clinical Exercise Physiologist, discuss how to measure or monitor personal exercise and physical activity, some advantages and disadvantages of doing so, and its importance to Veterans and clinical...

Essential Food Nutrients, Vitamins and Supplements Dr. Serena Satcher, Integrative and Functional Nutrition physician ends our Functional Nutrition segment by exploring with moderator Paulette Brower, proven essential phytonutrients in food and drink known to provide health benefits. How the VHA Whole Health model supports “food and drink” as a resource to stay healthy and fight disease is also ad...

The Role and Importance of Mitochondria In this episode, we welcome Dr. Serena Satcher once again to have a discussion on the role and importance of mitochondria with Paulette Brower. Hear Dr. Satcher examine how functional nutrition plans impact and support optimal mitochondrial function. More resources are available here: The War Related Illness & Injury Study Center (WRIISC Resources): https://...

The Detoxification Dr. Serena Satcher discusses how required nutrients and others optimize the body’s natural detoxification process in the liver, kidney and skin. This podcast is moderated by Paulette Brower. Learn more about detoxification here: The War Related Illness & Injury Study Center (WRIISC Resources): https://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/WARRELATEDILLNESS/index.asp

The Elimination Nutritional Food Plan Dr. Serena Satcher sits down for a conversation with Steven Greer, Veteran and Exercise Physiologist with the NJ WRIISC, and Paulette Brower. In it, she Introduces the Elimination Diet and its usefulness as a functional nutrition tool in supporting post deployment Veterans with weakened immune systems which may manifest in CMI (Chronic Multi-symptom Illness)....

Nutritional Rebalancing-Beyond Diets For this episode, Dr. Serena Satcher, Integrative and Functional Medicine physician in conversation with Paulette Brower, examines functional nutrition plans, their ability to improve overall health and a vast array of Veteran’s symptoms, and how Intermittent fasting is used with them to achieve detoxification and apoptosis [cell death]. Clinicians interested i...