January 17, 2012
School of Medicine joins Michelle Obama to support veterans and families
As part of first lady Michelle Obama’s Joining Forces initiative, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is teaming up with the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine to create a new generation of doctors, medical schools and research facilities that will make sure our military veterans and their families receive the care worthy of their service.
Recognizing veterans’ and their families’ sacrifice and commitment, Johns Hopkins has pledged to mobilize its uniquely integrated missions in education, research and clinical care to train the nation’s physicians to meet veterans’ and their families’ unique health care needs, including post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
“We are thrilled to partner with the AAMC in this important national effort to help our wounded warriors and their families,” said Edward D. Miller, the Frances Watt Baker, M.D., and Lenox D. Baker Jr., M.D., Dean of the Medical Faculty and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Johns Hopkins has a long and proud history of supporting the medical needs of our active-duty armed forces members and veterans, and we as an institution are privileged to pledge our support in this regard.”
Together, Johns Hopkins, the AAMC and AACOM are committing to enriching medical education along its continuum to ensure that physicians are aware of the clinical challenges and best practices associated with caring for this group; develop new research and clinical trials on post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury to better understand and treat these conditions; share their information and best practices with each other through a collaborative Web forum created by the AAMC; and grow the body of knowledge leading to improvements in health care and wellness for military service members, veterans and their families.
As part of a broader effort to provide the most advanced medical services and technology to our servicemen, Johns Hopkins is establishing the Military and Veterans Health Institute. An interdisciplinary effort to tap into a wide range of expertise across Johns Hopkins, the institute will serve as a cross-enterprise vehicle to pursue clinical, research and educational partnerships in areas beneficial to both the military and global communities.
Johns Hopkins is committed to advancing the standard of care within military medicine and has dedicated attention to many related disciplines, including psychological health, regenerative medicine, rehabilitative care, systems engineering, population health and the science of health care delivery. Under contract with the Department of Defense for more than 30 years, Johns Hopkins Health System also serves the military community through the Uniformed Services Family Health Plan, a Department of Defense–sponsored managed care program providing the TRICARE Prime benefit to more than 35,000 retired military members and families of active duty service personnel.
Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of the vice president, created Joining Forces to bring Americans together to recognize, honor and take action to support veterans and military families as they serve their country and throughout their lives. The initiative aims to educate, challenge and spark action from all sectors of society to ensure that veterans and military families have the support they have earned. 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.