Introducing Wounded Warrior’s Dedicated Board of Directors

Alongside an executive leadership team headed by CEO Mike Linnington, Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) operates under the guidance of a 12-member board of directors that provides governance and oversight for the group’s various programs and activities.

Drawing on their diverse backgrounds in military, government, nonprofit, business, and medicine, the board members work together to ensure that WWP is meeting the needs of veterans while gaining the resources required to continue its programs well into the future.

In January 2020, Wounded Warrior strengthened its board by adding three new members with both military and business leadership experience. Keep reading for a brief introduction to the new members and the rest of the WWP board of directors.

 

Kathy Hildreth

A former test pilot and aviation maintenance officer in the US Army, Kathy Hildreth served in the military for over five years before going on to launch a career in the defense industry. Her company, M1 Support Services, carries out complex government support contracts and is dedicated to providing jobs for military veterans. Along with Bill Selman and Ken Hunzeker, Hildreth is among the newest members of the WWP board.

 

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Bill Selman

West Point graduate Bill Selman served as an active-duty Army officer for five years and continued his military service in the Army Reserve, eventually retiring as a lieutenant colonel. As a civilian, he has held various leadership positions in finance, sales, engineering, and insurance while supporting various nonprofit groups.

 

Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Ken Hunzeker

Also a West Point graduate, Ken Hunzeker commanded various Army forces throughout a military career spanning 35 years. After retiring from the military in 2010, he worked for several years in government relations. Hunzeker’s recent accolades include his selection as a 2020 Distinguished Graduate of the US Military Academy.

 

Lisa Disbrow

Lisa Disbrow joined the US Air Force in 1985. Her military career, which spanned over three decades, included work in signals/electronic intelligence and deployments during Operations Desert Storm and Southern Watch. Disbrow’s activities since retiring from the Air Force Reserve in 2008 include serving as the 25th Under Secretary of the US Air Force.

 

Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Michael T. Hall

Like many other members of the WWP board of directors, Michael T. Hall has spent his entire adult life in service to his country. As an Army officer, he completed multiple deployments and earned several decorations, including the Bronze Star Medal and Distinguished Service Medal. Hall retired after 34 years of military service and has since worked as a defense consultant, executive coach, and dedicated supporter of several veterans organizations.

 

Juan Garcia

Currently a managing director at Deloitte in Washington, DC, Juan Garcia previously served for six years as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs). He was appointed to the leadership position after serving active and reserve Navy duty for over 15 years. Alongside his military service, Garcia, who holds a juris doctor and a master in public policy from Harvard, has worked as an attorney and member of the Texas House of Representatives.

 

Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Rick Tryon

Lieutenant General Rick Tryon retired from the Marine Corps in 2014 after nearly four and a half decades of military service. His military career began in 1970 and included leadership assignments in Japan, Iraq, Turkey, and several European countries. In addition to serving on the WWP board of directors and WWP advisory council, Tryon serves as a senior fellow in international leadership at the University of North Florida.

 

Cari DeSantis

With a professional background focused on government and nonprofit organizational management, Cari DeSantis brings unique expertise to the WWP board of directors, which she joined in 2017. Much of her work has focused on the health and human services sector. Alongside her activities with WWP, DeSantis currently leads a Maryland-based nonprofit that connects people of differing abilities with employment opportunities.

Named one of the Top 100 Women for 2017 by the Daily Record in Maryland, DeSantis is an award-winning author of three books.

 

Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Alonzo Smith

Alonzo Smith is an experienced combat veteran with firsthand knowledge of the difficulties faced by the nation’s wounded warriors. During a deployment to Afghanistan, Smith sustained severe wounds that led to several surgeries, prolonged hospital stays, and a long recovery process aided by physical rehabilitation. Following his 33-year military career, he has been dedicated to helping his fellow veterans as a WWP alumnus and board member.

 

Kathleen Widmer

Another West Point graduate, Kathleen Widmer has balanced her professional pursuits in business management and marketing leadership with her activities as an advocate for military veterans. Her work in this area includes serving as co-chair of the Veterans Leadership Council at Johnson & Johnson. Since 2018, Widmer has helped lead the WWP board of directors as vice chair.

 

Dr. Jonathan Woodson

Board certified in internal medicine, general surgery, vascular surgery, and critical care surgery, Dr. Jonathan Woodson joined the WWP board of directors in 2016 and now serves as board chair. Outside of his work at WWP, Dr. Woodson has held positions in the Military Health System, including Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. He currently serves as a professor of surgery, management, health law, and policy at Boston University Medical Center in addition to serving as Army Reserve Medical Command commanding general.

 

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Justin Constantine

Like Sergeant Major Alonzo Smith, Lieutenant Colonel Justin Constantine has also overcome wounds received in military combat. After miraculously recovering from a sniper gunshot to the head, he joined WWP and launched a civilian career that has included work as an inspirational speaker and writer on military and leadership issues. For his courage and work with military veterans, WWP awarded him the George C. Lang Award and appointed him to board of directors in 2011. Today, he stands out as the group’s longest-serving member.

 

Disclaimer: This website contains general information about medical conditions and treatments. This information is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy or validity of any statements or information provided on this website. Do not rely on this information as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or another professional healthcare provider. You should seek immediate medical attention if you think you are suffering from a medical condition. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website. 

A Look at the Wounded Warrior Project’s Goals for 2020

In 2003, the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) began with an initiative to deliver backpacks to veterans recovering from combat-related injuries at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC. From those humble beginnings, the organization has grown to become a national leader in providing programs and services designed to help veterans and their families to thrive outside of the military. Following its successes in 2019, WWP has major plans as it moves into the next decade. Read on for a look at the organization’s goals for 2020 and beyond.

 

Adapting to Veterans’ Changing Needs

With an understanding that all veterans transitioning from the military have their own unique needs, challenges, and goals, WWP provides programs and services that cover areas ranging from physical and mental wellness to education, career guidance, and peer and family support. Other initiatives focus on helping veterans to obtain Veteran Affairs (VA) benefits and gain independence following a moderate-to-severe physical injury or neurological condition.

As part of its efforts to ensure that it is effectively meeting the needs of the individuals and families that it serves, WWP conducts an annual survey that examines key issues facing the military community. In late 2019, the organization released the results of its 10th Annual Warrior Survey, which it will use throughout 2020 to inform and adapt its programming.

An area of concern highlighted in the 2019 survey deals with the ongoing physical and mental trauma of service-related and combat exposure following three or more deployments. Throughout 2020 and beyond, WWP will work closely with the government and other veterans service organizations to raise awareness about this issue and ensure that those affected receive the assistance that they need.

Continuing to Support Mental Health

Since its inception, WWP has focused on helping veterans to overcome post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. In 2020, the organization will continue to offer services in this area, as more members of the military community reach out for help.

WWP’s mental-health initiatives include its Warrior Care Network, a program that provides intensive outpatient treatment for veterans and their family members at no cost to them. During the 2019 fiscal year, more than 2,100 people benefitted from the network, which is maintained by WWP and four US-based medical centers. Ensuring that this partnership continues to thrive will remain a priority for WWP throughout 2020.

The Wounded Warrior Project will also continue to offer its many other mental health programs, such as rehabilitative workshops and retreats. Another service in this area includes WWP Talk, a free mental health support line that provides nonclinical counseling and guidance for registered WWP members.

 

Prioritizing Physical Health and Support Systems

Along with its various mental health services, WWP emphasizes the importance of physical activity and support among veterans striving to improve their health. In 2020, WWP members across the United States will take part in numerous activities, including adaptive sports events, fitness challenges, and online wellness seminars.

Additionally, the Wounded Warrior Project will continue providing hands-on assistance through its coaching program, which is designed to help veterans lose weight, increase mobility, and improve their nutritional habits. Other programs and initiatives to watch for in 2020 include Soldier Ride, a cycling event for veterans of all ability levels that has helped thousands of WWP members to overcome physical, mental, and emotional challenges while building camaraderie with other service members.

 

Partnering to Help Warriors Improve Their Financial Well-Being

Regardless of whether they’re dealing with physical or mental health issues, many veterans face financial challenges when transitioning to civilian life. Fortunately, WWP offers financial wellness programs designed to help veterans navigate the VA benefits system, pursue fulfilling careers, and access the benefits that they deserve. In 2019, these services helped WWP members to secure nearly $220 million in collective salaries and benefits.

Going forward, the Wounded Warrior Project will continue to offer career-development assistance with support from local businesses, as well as national corporate partners. This includes Deloitte, which teamed up with WWP in 2019 to operate over 15 employment boot camps in communities across the United States.

In 2020, Deloitte and the Wounded Warrior Project will again partner to offer an additional 15 employment boot camps throughout the year. Over the span of two to three days, each training session will provide 20 to 30 veterans and their family members with instruction on interview skills, resume writing, business etiquette, and other areas related to career development.

 

Reaching Out for Community Support

As a nonprofit, WWP would not be able to provide any of its life-changing programs and services without the assistance of volunteers and donors. Throughout 2020, the organization will focus on expanding its support network as it works to improve and extend the reach of its offerings.

Those looking to help WWP attain its goals can do so by making a one-time financial contribution or by setting up a recurring donation. People can also become involved by hosting a fundraiser or participating in WWP events, such as the Carry Forward 5K. In 2020, the Wounded Warrior Project will host Carry Forward events in California, Tennessee, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Florida. More information is available at WoundedWarriorProject.org.

 

Disclaimer: This website contains general information about medical conditions and treatments. This information is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy or validity of any statements or information provided on this website. Do not rely on this information as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or another professional health-care provider. You should seek immediate medical attention if you think you are suffering from a medical condition. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website. 

A Spotlight on the Big Ways BGCA Serves Native Youth

In addition to serving youth in major cities nationwide, Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BBCA) maintains over 1,000 Clubs in rural areas. These include many communities on Native lands, which are home to American Indian, Alaska Native, American Samoan, and Hawaiian tribal youth. Along with the challenges that affect young people of all cultural backgrounds, those in Native communities often have unique needs that aren’t being addressed by local programs.

As part of a commitment to promote and expand youth development initiatives among Native kids and teens, BGCA established its Native Services arm in partnership with tribal leaders and other key stakeholders on tribal lands. Keep reading to learn more about BGCA Native Services and what it’s doing to improve the lives of Native youth.

 

Challenges Facing Native Communities

Across the United States, there are many self-governing Native American communities that are home to over 570 federally recognized tribes. Each of these groups has its own rich culture, heritage, language, and traditions. Unfortunately, many Native communities also face unique challenges that make it difficult for tribe members, including Native youth, to reach their full potential.

Although many young tribe members thrive and succeed in life, Native youth are among the most vulnerable populations in the country. In addition to experiencing high rates of poverty, a disproportionate number of Native youth face challenges related to physical and nutritional health, mental wellness, substance abuse, and education. A lack of local resources and the isolation of some Native communities can make these challenges even more difficult to overcome.

 

What BGCA Native Services Is Doing to Help

The mission of BGCA Native Services is to help Native youth reach their full potential while celebrating the particular strengths and cultural traditions of the country’s tribal communities. Since launching Native Services in 1992, BGCA has expanded its offerings to become the largest youth-serving organization on Native land. Today, more than 86,000 youth from over 100 tribes benefit from programming offered through nearly 200 Native Clubs nationwide.

Over the years, BGCA has built sustainable partnerships with tribal leaders and invested resources toward improving the capacity of professional staff and other leaders of Native Clubs. As with Club programs outside of Native communities, those implemented by BGCA Native Services focus on physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development. BGCA has also worked closely with local tribes and community leaders to develop programming specific to the needs and cultures of Native youth.

 

Native Services Club Programs

Native Services Club programs cover each of BGCA’s five core program areas: Character and Leadership Development; Health and Life Skills; Education and Career Development; the Arts; and Sports, Fitness and Recreation. Native Club youth take part in national BGCA programs such as All Stars, DIY STEM, My.Future, and Smart Moves.

Through the work of Native Services leaders, the curriculum of each of these programs has been adapted to be more reflective of Native American culture. BGCA also encourages all local Native Club leaders to create supplemental materials and activities to further reflect their own community’s unique culture and traditions. Native Services even created its Cultural Program Toolbox to make it easier for Clubs to build and implement culturally relevant services.

Along with adapting existing BGCA programming, Native Services has developed programs that are only implemented in Native Clubs. They include On the T.R.A.I.L (Together Raising Awareness for Indian Life) to Diabetes Prevention. This program aims to reduce the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes among Native communities through a combination of physical, nutritional, and educational activities.

 

Keeping the Momentum Going

More than 25 years after launching Native Services, BGCA continues to build momentum as the top youth agency on Native lands. As part of its Great Futures 2025 Strategy, which was developed in 2017, the organization has established four key priorities for its activities with Native youth.

Going forward, Boys and Girls Clubs will work to increase the quality of Native Club programs and leadership while advocating for Native youth development. The group will also focus on growing the number of Native Club members as it continues to expand and improve programming.

BGCA Native Services has received significant support in these efforts from corporate and nonprofit partners. This includes the Walmart Foundation, which donated $500,000 to help BGCA provide Native kids and teens with education on healthy lifestyles and nutrition. The funding is supporting education and Club improvements at over two dozen Clubs on Native lands.

BGCA also relies on the support of individual donors to continue its Native Services programming. Supporters can make a tax-deductible donation to the Native American Sustainability Fund to ensure that Native Clubs continue to thrive. Each dollar donated to the fund is used to increase Club sustainability, foster organizational growth, and provide training resources and technical support for Native Club leaders.

More information about BGCA Native Services and ways you can help is available at www.naclubs.org.

 

Disclaimer: This website contains general information about medical conditions and treatments. This information is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy or validity of any statements or information provided on this website. Do not rely on this information as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or another professional healthcare provider. You should seek immediate medical attention if you think you are suffering from a medical condition. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website. 

AHA Highlights Advancements in Cardiovascular Disease Research in 2019

The American Heart Association (AHA) has been behind some of the most important research breakthroughs related to heart disease and stroke care. Funding from the AHA has helped researchers to develop a better understanding of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, as well as to advance treatments that have improved and extended lives.

In addition to providing research funding, the AHA reports on the latest significant research advancements through press releases and other publications. One of these is its year-end list of leading research accomplishments, which it has compiled annually since 1996. This blog post offers a look at several discoveries in heart and stroke science highlighted by the association in 2019.

 

Improvement in Blood Pressure Control

It is well established that controlling one’s blood pressure is a key factor in preventing heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular conditions. Two research studies published in 2019 provided new insights on improving blood pressure control and underscored the importance of doing so.

A study published in the European Heart Journal in October 2019 suggested that bedtime might be the best time to take prescribed blood-pressure medication. According to the clinical trial, which involved over 9,000 patients with hypertension, taking all prescribed hypertension medications before bed rather than the next morning can improve ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) control and reduce one’s risk of a cardiovascular event by 45 percent.

Another study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that controlling blood-pressure might offer benefits that extend beyond cardiovascular health. Based on the results of a randomized clinical trial of individuals age 50 and over with high blood pressure, lowering systolic blood pressure to under 120 millimeters of mercury decreased the chances of mild cognitive impairment as compared to lowering it to under 140.

 

Insights from Gene Studies

Developing novel treatments for cardiovascular disease and prevention requires that researchers increase their understanding of the underlying factors contributing to the problem. In some cases, this can include looking at a person’s genetic makeup. Many researchers are examining the human genome, and their work is leading to new insights on heart disease and heart-related issues.

In 2019, researchers released the results of a study that shed light on genomic regions potentially linked to venous thromboembolism (VTE), a blood-clotting condition that affects between 300,000 and 600,000 Americans each year. The analysis, published in Nature Genetics, examined the DNA of over 650,000 people and led to the discovery of 22 new genomic regions in the human body that might overlap with VTE. Moreover, the journal Nature Medicine published the results of a study that identified 18 new regions of the human genome connected to peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Along with gene studies related to VTE and PAD, new gene research into pulmonary hypertension also emerged in 2019. For instance, the results of a study published in the AHA journal Circulation explained how the protein coding gene BOLA3 (BolA Family Member 3), plays a critical role in this type of hypertension. With this genetic knowledge, researchers can explore different avenues for treating the disease.

 

Evidence Reiterates the Importance of Physical Activity

The role that physical activity plays in keeping one’s heart healthy has been well understood for a long time. Recent research focusing on older women, however, has provided new insights into the importance of exercise for those in their senior years.

Two studies that appeared in Circulation and JAMA Network Open, respectively, examined groups of women averaging 79 years old who had no known history of stroke or myocardial infarction. In the first study, researchers found that reducing sedentary activity by as little as one hour a day could lower the risk of heart disease by 26 percent. The second study suggested that daily physical activity, even light activities such as walking and gardening, can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease among older women.

 

Research Studies Drive Care Strategies

In addition to increasing the scientific understanding of heart disease and stroke, research drives shifts in care by furthering opportunities for new therapies and treatments. The AHA’s list highlighted the results of several such investigations published in 2019.

A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that adults taking statins for elevated triglyceride levels might reduce their risk of stroke or another heart-related event by up to 25 percent by adding a fish oil derivative to their therapy regimen. Following this data, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new prescription form of the same fish oil derivative for treating elevated triglyceride levels. The medication is prescribed under the name Vascepa.

The New England Journal of Medicine also published studies focused on ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) heart attacks and ischemic stroke. The study on heart attacks concluded that percutaneous coronary intervention, an artery-clearing procedure used for STEMI heart attacks and epicardial coronary artery obstructions, might have better long-term effects if performed to open and clear both the artery that caused the attack and other partially clogged ones.

In the study examining ischemic stroke, researchers determined that the clot-busting drug alteplase might be beneficial for some patients up to nine hours following the onset of symptoms. Previously, physicians generally believed that the drug needed to be administered within a four-and-a-half-hour window.

More information about these and other research advancements from 2019 can be found at http://www.heart.org.

 

Disclaimer: This website contains general information about medical conditions and treatments. This information is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy or validity of any statements or information provided on this website. Do not rely on this information as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or another professional health-care provider. You should seek immediate medical attention if you think you are suffering from a medical condition. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website.