First lady lauds USF veterans program

Posted Jan 13, 2012 by Lindsay Peterson

Updated Jan 16, 2012 at 05:11 PM

First lady Michelle Obama singled out USF yesterday in an address before students and faculty at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine.

It was one of three programs she named, of 130, that are part of a new veterans initiative called Joining Forces.

What caught her attention was a USF plan to “create a first-of-its-kind Center for Veterans Reintegration, which will mean a single, cohesive research, treatment, and education facility for veterans and families.” It’s working with the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs.

The idea behind Joining Forces is to train medical students and doctors to provide better treatment to veterans and their family members. It also aims to bolster research and clinical trials on post-traumatic stress disorder and brain injury.

“I’m inspired to see our nation’s medical schools step up to address this pressing need for our veterans and military families.  By directing some of our brightest minds, our most cutting-edge research, and our finest teaching institutions toward our military families, they’re ensuring that those who have served our country receive the first-rate care that they have earned,” said the first lady.

You can go here to read more about USF and the program, which also involves the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.