Speakers probe what's been learned at "front lines" about mental health services

“Lessons Learned from the Front Lines of Military, Medical Health and Mental Health Services” will serve as the dynamic theme of a series of keynote addresses, classroom talks and panel discussions April 13-14 at SUNY Fredonia.

 

With the U.S. engaged in long-term military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, few topics could be more relevant than the focus of this two-day event, whose subtitle is “Preserving and Promoting Health, Resiliency and Conflict Resolution.”

 

The two keynote speakers, Elizabeth Norman, Ph.D., R.N., and professor of the History of the Professions with New York University, and retired Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught, United States Air Force, and president of the Women in Service to America Memorial Foundation, will share lessons they gained from their personal and professional experiences in both military and medical worlds. Their addresses will be given Friday, April 13 at 5:15 p.m. in 105 Fenton Hall.

 

A noted historian and award-winning writer, Dr. Norman relied extensively upon personal interviews to write, “We Band of Angels: The Untold Story of American Nurses Trapped on Bataan by the Japanese.” She is also the author of “Tears in the Darkness: The Story of the Bataan Death March and its Aftermath” and “Women at War: The Story of Fifty Military Nurses Who Served in Vietnam."

 

Following a distinguished 28-year career in the Air Force, Gen. Vaught embraced a new mission to lead the effort to build and then operate the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.

 

Accompanying Vaught will be Robin Fee, director of the foundation’s Oral History program; and retired Lt. Col. Marilla Cushman, director of its public relations office. Ms. Fee will be available to collect oral histories from local military women from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, April 13. Interested military women are asked to contact Dr. Bruce Klonsky or Sandra Vedovato, the event coordinators, at 716-673-3892 to schedule an interview.

 

Following an informal meet-and-greet on April 13 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in room W301 Thompson Hall, Norman and Vaught will give classroom talks and formal panel presentations devoted to lessons learned from military, medical and mental health services from 3 to 4:30 p.m., at 105 Fenton. On April 14, a media presentation and book signings will be held 10 to 11:30 a.m., also in W301 Thompson. It will address the Women in Service for America Memorial and nurses who served in World War II and Vietnam.

 

In addition, a presentation devoted to equine-assisted therapy programs that have been expanded and are now being used to serve members of the military will be held April 13 from noon to 1 p.m. in W301 Thompson.

 

Keynote speakers, staff and local military, health and equine service providers are expected to be available at the 1 p.m. informal meet-and-greet sessions in W301 Thompson on April 13, and at other times when available.

 

The keynotes, panel discussions, meet-and-greets and media presentations/book signings are all free and open to the public.