In this compelling episode, we welcome Dr. Holt, a board-certified Pulmonary and Critical Care physician, associate professor at the University of Miami, and a key member of the Miami VA Healthcare System. Dr. Holt leads a highly successful lung cancer screening program, showcasing his commitment to veteran care through early detection and advanced treatment methods.

Key Highlights:

• Lung Precision Oncology Program (LPOP) Overview: Dr. Holt dives into the core mission of LPOP – identifying and examining lung tumors in their earliest stages, crucial for effective treatment. With lung cancer being a significant threat to veterans, LPOP's targeted approach is a game-changer in cancer care.
• Innovative Diagnostic Techniques: Discover how navigational bronchoscopy and CT scans are transforming lung cancer detection, offering non-invasive, precise tumor mapping. These technologies enable personalized treatments tailored to the patient's specific needs and the molecular profile of the tumor.
• Advancing Lung Cancer Treatment: Learn about the latest advancements in lung cancer therapy, focusing on targeted treatments with fewer side effects. Dr. Holt emphasizes the importance of early screening and the role of LPOP in driving scientific research and medical breakthroughs.
• Nationwide Impact of LPOP: Explore how LPOP, with its network of hubs across the country, is making advanced lung cancer screening and treatment accessible to veterans nationwide, contributing significantly to cancer research.
• Veteran Involvement and Advocacy: Understand how veterans are at the heart of LPOP, not only benefiting from cutting-edge treatments but also participating in the progress of scientific research.
• Resources and Events: Visit Lung Cancer Kilts Research Cures for more information on lung cancer advocacy and research.
• The Great American Smokeout: A reminder of the importance of smoking cessation in preventing lung cancer and supporting overall health.

Tune in to this episode for an in-depth look at how Dr. Holt and the LPOP initiative are reshaping lung cancer care for veterans, offering hope and cutting-edge treatment options.

On this week's episode of Borne the Battle, host Pablo Meza spoke with Rachel Han from VA's mobile app team, who shared how VA is using apps as a digital bridge connecting Veterans to VA's benefits and services.

On this episode of Borne the Battle, we dive into the VA's efforts to make it easier for veterans to access the programs, services, and benefits they've earned. We learn about the VA's phone number, 800-MYVA411, and how it's the organization's "voice front door" to connect veterans with the right person or program. We hear a heartwarming story of a veteran who received assistance from a customer service representative and patient advocate to access the voucher program for the homeless. Our urges listeners who are veterans or have family members who are veterans to enroll in the VA healthcare system and use MYVA411 as a starting point for information and eligibility questions. Overall, this episode highlights the various services and programs offered by the VA and the efforts being made to improve accessibility and assistance for veterans.

In this episode, we talk with Jason Strickland, director of communications for The National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic. In this week-long event, veterans from 42 different states and 80 VA medical centers or clinics participate in activities such as skiing, fly fishing, rock climbing, and even sled hockey. Participants have a variety of disabilities, including profound disabilities, vision impairment, spinal cord injuries, amputations, and traumatic brain injuries. Organizers work with DAV to bring in sponsors who are committed to serving the veteran community, especially those suffering from disabilities.

Additionally, we discuss how the staff and volunteers work tirelessly throughout the year to create this event. In addition to serving breakfast, repairing wheelchairs and instructing skiers, there are several volunteer opportunities available. We discuss the competitive nature of the application process for becoming a volunteer, as well as the importance of registering as early as possible.

Follow their journey on social media with the handles @Sports4Vets and at www.wintersportsclinic.org

In this episode of the Borne the Battle Podcast, we're connecting Nick Beelner the Director of the National Disabled Veterans Golf Clinic, an adaptive golf program focused on empowering disabled veterans from coast to coast. We'll discuss the tailored golf lessons, user-friendly equipment, and entertaining activities they offer, as well as the sense of camaraderie and personal growth experienced by participants. Join us as we uncover the power of connection, teamwork, and triumphing over challenges with the remarkable individuals at the National Disabled Veterans Golf Clinic.  How To Apply For VA Health Care | Veterans - National Disabled Veterans Golf Clinic

This week’s Borne the Battle – a benefits breakdown – features the Million Veteran Program (MVP), which is a national, voluntary research program to learn about how genes, lifestyle and military exposures affect health and illness and improve health care for Veterans.

Sumitra Muralidhar, Ph.D. is the program director under VA's Office of Research and Development. Dr. Sumitra is motivated to help Veterans by overseeing the policy and infrastructure development for the collection and use of samples and genetic, clinical, lifestyle and military exposure data from one million Veterans. Since the program’s inception in 2011, 870,000 Veterans have enrolled and partnered with MVP.

The Million Veteran Program is the world’s largest health care system-based research program on genetics, lifestyle, military exposure and health, with the goal of providing precision health care to Veterans and the population at large. Dr. Sumitra provides overall direction and management of the national program across sixty-plus VA medical centers, more than 70 community-based outpatient clinics; she also oversees operational leadership, coordination, implementation and oversight of all aspects of the program’s development and implementation, including policy development, fiscal management, regulatory affairs, public relations and scientific direction.

Precision medicine is an innovative approach that has the potential to cure cancers, wipe out rare diseases, and improve the overall health of Veterans and even the general public. It’s changing the way we think about health care. With MVP, VA hopes to provide an invaluable tool for scientists to use in order to advance research and tailor disease prevention and treatment by taking into account the differences in an individual’s clinical, lifestyle and genetic information.

In this episode of Borne the Battle, Dr. Sumitra answers these questions and more:

• What motivates her to help Veterans at VA?
• Why should Veterans enroll in the Million Veteran Program?
• Why should Veteran’s trust MVP with their genetic information?
• What studies are coming out of the program?
• What is the overall purpose of MVP?
• How VA can keep this genetic data safe through cloud databases?
• How can Veterans sign up and participate in MVP?

Dr. Sumitra encourages Veterans from all backgrounds, races and ethnicities to sign up for the program, so it can really make a difference. It’s a legacy program, and it can revolutionize how health care is delivered for all other Veterans and even the general public.

Borne the Battle Veteran of the Week:

• Army Veteran Ismael Medina

Additional Links:

• VA genetics program aims to increase mental health treatments for Veterans;
• Million Veteran Program – 10 years, 850,000 Veterans and one dream to revolutionize health care;
• VA’s Million Veterans Program seeks to enroll more women Veterans;
• VA's Million Veteran Program Publications through December 2021;
• We Need Volunteers;
• You Can Now Join VA's Million Veterans Program Online.
• VA publishes Interim Final Rule for Legal Services for Veterans Grant Program

Retired Army Major General Charles (Chuck) Swannack, Jr. served in various command and staff positions during his thirty-plus years in the Army. He commanded the 82nd Airborne Division from October 2002 to May 2004, served as a brigade commander during Operation Uphold Democracy, was a battalion commander during Operation Nimrod Dancer and served in many more roles.

Despite his impressive military service, Swannack argues that his contributions pale in comparison to the ones made by service members who lost their lives while in the line of duty. As a civilian, he helps Veterans and military families honor those who have fallen.

In this Memorial Day Borne the Battle episode, Swannack discusses his eventful military career and then talks about how he does his part to honor the fallen.

Swannack touches on his work with Speedway Motorsports (SMI) as executive director for SpeedwayChildren’s Charities. Through this non-profit fundraising organization, he works with local groups to help children facing challenging circumstances overcome obstacles standing in the way of their success.

As SMI’s Vice President for Armed Forces Affairs, he also leads Speedway Motorsport’s “Welcome Home Patriots” initiative, designed to close the gap between the military and civilian community.

Swannack further speaks about the Coca-Cola 600, a motorsport event that he looks forward to every year. Slated for the Sunday of every Memorial Day weekend, this race centers entirely around honoring the fallen. Listen to the podcast episode to learn more about why Swannack cannot help but shed tears at the Coca-Cola 600 every year.

FOR A VIDEO RECAP OF THE 2021 COCA-COLA 600, CLICK HERE

Swannack also serves as president of the Patriot Military Family Foundation. The foundation provides various forms of Veteran and military family support, including housing assistance, scholarships for children of Veterans, post-traumatic stress treatment assistance and much more.

Swannack fundamentally believes that all Americans should live a life worthy of those who gave their lives for our freedom. He contends that fallen service members died so that members of the military and civilian community can be afforded the same opportunities to enjoy a fulfilling life. And he hopes that after this Memorial Day weekend, we can come out as a less divided nation and one that can promote our shared interests.

Borne the Battle Veteran of the Week:

• Every Veteran who has given their life for our country.

Additional Links:

• PBS’ National Memorial Day Concert airs on PBS Sunday from 8:00 – 9:30 p.m. ET. For more information about the event and alternative ways of viewing it, click here.
• Coca-Cola 600 schedule here.
• VA launches $20 million innovation challenge to reduce Veteran suicide.
• After two years without gatherings, VA National Cemeteries to host public Memorial Day ceremonies.
• VA implements COVID-19 health protection levels enhancing Veteran, visitor and employee safety at medical facilities.

Major General (retired) Mark Graham lost his two sons, Jeffrey and Kevin, less than a year apart from one another. Their deaths came unexpectedly and rocked the course of his life forever. For him, happiness will never be the same. And yet, he still finds joy in his life through helping Veterans triumph in their darkest moments.

On this week’s episode of Borne the Battle, Graham takes listeners on a riveting journey through his life. He described how personal loss, depression, mental health, family, grief, healing, perseverance and his service to the nation all intersected to shape him into the person he is today.

Graham dedicated a substantial part of his life after his sons’ deaths to combat the stigma surrounding mental health. When he parented his sons, he felt that he severely underestimated the seriousness of depression. But he now iterates that mental health is real and a serious concern. Along with his wife, Carol, Graham established the Jeff and Kevin Graham Memorial Fund, among other organizations and funds, to collect donations that support the prevention of suicide and the study of depression.

And because of his experiences, Graham is currently the director of Vets4Warriors, a nonprofit that runs a 24/7 confidential peer support network for struggling Veterans, active-duty service members, national guard, reservists, and families of any of these groups. This program hires Veterans and trains them to help guide Veterans or those in the military community who may be going through a difficult time in the right direction by connecting them with resources or just being a place to lend an open ear. The service is completely free and confidential.

Call 1-855-838-8255 to get in touch with a Vets4Warriors peer

The Vets4Warriors program collaborates closely with the Veterans Crisis Line, which provides pointed assistance for Veterans in crisis.

Call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 to get in touch with a Veteran Crisis Line responder

PBS’s 2022 National Memorial Day Concert will feature Graham and his wife sharing their story and how they hope to motivate those that are struggling to get help.

Graham wants everyone who hears his story to seek assistance if suffering from poor mental health or depression. He recognizes that the first step of reaching out for help can be hard. But Graham also argues that there are people who want to help, people like himself who know what going through a traumatic time in life is like. He and his team at Vets4Warriors are ready to help.

Borne the Battle Veteran of the Week:

• Army Veteran Jeremiah Thomas Wittman

Additional Links:

• Distance should never be an impediment to getting support. The VA MISSION Act of 2020 improves access to community care. Learn more about the Act here.
• Borne the Battle episode 212 features Aaron Quinonez and his app Operation Pop Smoke. The app helps Veterans build their post-service squad to help one provide support for one another.
• Statement from Secretaries Fudge, McDonough, Vilsack and Yellen on continued efforts to connect homeowners to pandemic relief.

This week we revisit Army Green Beret Veteran and 37 year old NFL rookie Nate Boyer’s interview.

Olivia Nunn knew from a young age that she would join the Army one day; her father had been a combat engineer. She planned to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, but low test scores in math prevented her admission. Nunn’s parents supported her decision to join the military, but they insisted that she receive an education and become an officer, so she enrolled at Radford University in Virginia and joined the school’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program.

After college, Nunn wanted to become an armor officer and be part of a tank crew, but when she joined the Army in 2001, women weren’t allowed to fill certain roles in the military. Instead, she spent a decade as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Officer in the Chemical Corps and served multiple tours of duty in Iraq before moving into public affairs. For several years, she helped to produce the Army’s Soldier for Life podcast and eventually hosted the program.

“It looks easy, it looks glamorous,” Nunn says of podcasting, “but the truth is there’s a lot of work that goes into it.”

Nunn spent a total of 20 years in the Army and recently retired. Afterward, she became a communications consultant and a beauty queen.

“Your identity is wrapped up in your uniform,” Nunn says, “whether you do it for two years or 20 years.”

While she was still on active duty, Nunn suffered a mental health crisis and contemplated suicide. In this episode of Borne the Battle, she opens up about her experience and talks about how she found the help she needed, the challenges of transitioning from soldier to civilian and the need for better mental health resources for military personnel.

Borne the Battle Veteran of the Week:

• Army Veteran Barney F. Hajiro

EXTRA LINKS

• Official Army Soldier for Life site – https://soldierforlife.army.mil/ 

Navy Veteran Ken Harbaugh grew up in a family of military pilots but never really thought about joining the military himself. However, in a moment of clarity while studying abroad during his junior year of college, he changed course. That led to him commissioning in the Navy and becoming a fighter pilot leading combat reconnaissance missions.

After serving nine years, Harbaugh left the Navy and later enrolled at Yale University to study law. But the transition to civilian life was not easy for him. In this episode, he talks about what it was like adjusting and processing his emotions after leaving the military.

Harbaugh discusses how his transition – and a trip to the Bethesda Naval Hospital – inspired him to co-found The Mission Continues, a nonprofit organization. He also talks about his progress to help Veterans transition back to civilian life and assist those with mental health issues.

Harbaugh is a nonprofit entrepreneur who has been in leadership roles for many Veteran nonprofit organizations, such as The Mission Continues, ServiceNation and Team Rubicon. He talks about why he continues to serve in Veteran nonprofits.

Lastly, Harbaugh talks about why he decided to work in media and how he became the host for multiple podcasts, such as Burn the Boats and Medal of Honor at Evergreen Podcasts. He also delves into how he formed partnerships with various podcast networks and what steps Veterans can take to start a new podcast.

In this episode, Harbaugh also talks about:

• What he learned from his experiences in the military.
• Earning his law degree from Yale Law School.
• His time as a human rights researcher in Afghanistan.
• Working as a consultant for multiple Fortune 500 companies.
• Running for public office and how Veterans can become active in politics.
• Why it’s important to continue serving after the uniform comes off.

Borne the Battle Veteran of the Week: 

• Army Veteran Thomas Ferrell Allison

Additional Links:

• Borne the Battle #239: Marine Corps Veteran Jake Wood, Entrepreneur, Co-founder of Team Rubicon.
• Borne the Battle #264: Veteran Roundtable – Afghanistan Withdrawal / Evacuation.
• Clay Hunt Act complements VA’s ongoing commitment to mental health.
• Veteran suicide prevention.
• Redevelopment of VA Greater Los Angeles West L.A. Campus represents proof of concept for the nation as a way forward in tackling homelessness 
• VA establishes presumptive service connection for rare respiratory cancers for certain Veterans
• VA encourages volunteers to “Carry The Load” for an American hero during trek across country
• VA expands reimbursement agreement program to Urban Indian Organizations