Veterans' Health

Cuts to the Veterans Affairs department aren’t just about budgets — they’re about whether we, as a nation, truly honor those who’ve served, writes Dean Ashish Jha in a Boston Globe Opinion.

A team of Brown faculty members is conducting the first study of its kind to investigate whether MDMA-assisted therapy can relieve the suffering of Veterans with PTSD and alcohol use disorder.

Most of us know that lead exposure is bad for our health. To protect us, especially children, the US hasn’t allowed lead in gasoline, house paint, children’s toys, dishware or jewelry for decades. But there are a few places where lead has stuck around. Today we’re taking a look at one of the least well known, and most stubborn sources of lead exposure in the US - guns and ammunition. 

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is among the most common conditions facing U.S. Veterans, with no effective cure. Additionally, many Veterans use alcohol to alleviate their trauma, making medical treatment even more complex. For these high risk patients, Professors Christy Capone and Carolina Haass-Koffler are thinking outside the box: Could a treatment involving psychedelic drugs potentially save Veteran lives?

In celebration of Brown SPH’s 10th Anniversary, we’re featuring an alum on the 10th of each month who is advancing public health in Rhode Island.

Brown researchers examined hundreds of thousands of veterans’ health records to determine if exposure to burn pits on military bases correlates with elevated risk for respiratory and cardiac health conditions.

Online MPH student Saylor Lewtschenko combines her passions for elder care, Veterans’ health and data science to improve care options for those who have served.

Together, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute have awarded a 5-year, $5 million grant to create the Learning Health systems training to improve Disability and chronic condition care (LeaHD) center at Brown University.

Faculty members at the School of Public Health will use a Brown Research Seed Award to evaluate MDMA’s potential as treatment for veterans with co-occurring PTSD and alcohol use disorder.

Professor of epidemiology David Savitz offered commentary on veterans' exposure to chemicals in bases where burn pits were used.

Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice Amal Trivedi led a study that investigated outcomes of veterans who received disability benefits compared with veterans who did not qualify for them.