Jonas Veterans Healthcare Program
JONAS CENTER GOLF CLASSIC
To Benefit Veterans Healthcare >
Goal
The Jonas Center’s vision and intent is to help improve the healthcare of US veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan by supporting doctoral level (PhD and DNP) education advancement of nurses who will be involved in all levels of veterans’ healthcare, from administration and policy to direct patient care.
Need
With 22.2 million veterans living in the U.S. – a number that will continue to climb when an estimated 39,000 more troops return home from Iraq this year – there is an urgent need to reassess and continue to improve upon veterans’ healthcare. Upon returning home, veterans face an alarming number of unique healthcare challenges that include some sobering statistics:
- A new study by the Center for a New American Security shows an alarming increase in suicide risk among veterans: one US veteran of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan attempts suicide every 80 minutes, with 1,868 attempts in 2009 alone;
- 1 out of 5 Gulf War Veterans suffer from depression, anxiety, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); and
- Almost 90% of troops are attacked or ambushed while in combat and 65% witness death or serious injury of comrades.
Equally troubling are the results of a 2008 RAND study which revealed that 37% of mental health professionals felt unprepared to help veterans with reintegration issues. Currently, our healthcare workforce is not adequately prepared to help veterans adapt to their reintegration and the unique challenges they face, both physically and emotionally.
Program
Recognizing the tremendous commitment and sacrifices these men and women have made to serve our country, the Jonas Center is committed to do our part to support improved healthcare for our veterans. Starting in the fall of 2012, the Jonas Center will support scholarships for 50 nurses to be trained at the doctoral level (PhD and DNP) on veteran-specific healthcare needs, ranging from clinical to policy to administration to education, to help ensure our veterans are receiving the best possible care. Scholar’s research projects will be focused on priority veterans’ healthcare need (as identified by the White House and Veterans Administration):
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• Mental Health • Poly-trauma • Vision Impairment • Prosthetics • Spinal Cord Injury • Aging |
• Women’s Health • Traumatic Brain Injury • Homelessness • Care Coordination/Transitions • Informatics • Interdisciplinary care |
We are pleased to have Retired Brigadier General Bill Bester, 21st Chief of the Army Nurse Corps, on board as Senior Advisor to the Jonas Veterans Healthcare Program.
The Jonas Center’s vision is to foster new partnerships that help improve veterans’ healthcare through nursing and we welcome all contributions to support our efforts.
Please note that, at this time, applications to the Jonas Veterans Healthcare Program are by invitation only.
