The Doctor is Deployed - LLM Publications

OMA AllianceBy Beth Irish, OMA Alliance PresidentAllianceAidsReturningVetsIN MY FIRST COLUMN, I would like toshare with you some of the areas offocus for community outreach thathave engaged the Alliance throughoutthe past couple years, and will continuethrough the coming year.To engage with the considerations ofthe military and medicine in this issue,the starting point would be 2008–2009. Our Alliance president at thattime, Eva Germaine-Shimotakahara,began to promote awareness andeducation about issues surroundingour returning war veterans, especiallyconcerns relating to post traumaticstress disorder and traumatic braininjury. A forum looking at “TheVeteran Experience” was held in CoosBay in conjunction with the AllianceFall Session, 2008. In collaborationwith Bay Area Hospital in CoosCounty, Eva organized a programfilled with experts who educated us onsubjects ranging from diagnosis andtreatment of PTSD and TBI, as wellas about local and regional resourcesfor family support. Presenters includedDr. Scott Babe (OHSU), Dr. Lynn VanMale (Portland VA Medical Center),and Dr. James Calvert (2008 OregonDoctor Citizen of the Year), whopractices medicine in Klamath County.(See p. 16 for more on this topic).Through the ‘Adopt a US Soldier’program, individuals, county alliances,and families adopted soldiers, with oneschool class in Coos County assumingresponsibility for an entire unit in Iraq.Cards, letters, magazines, books andover 40 boxes of goodies were sent tosoldiers who had no friends or familyback home.Realizing that we all are motivated bythat which touches us in a personalway, Eva and her husband Steven arethe proud and honored parents ofdaughter Danielle, who serves alongwith her husband, McKenzie, in theU.S. Coast Guard. Being the parentsof a soldier can be both a very proudand frightening time as my husband Edand I (our son served in the US Armyinfantry in the 90s) and OMA AllianceExecutive Director Pat Webster and herhusband Monty (who currently haveson in the U.S. Navy) can confirm.Regardless of our stand on war and/or politics, we need to support ourreturning military men and women.This is, in fact, crucial to the veryhealth of our society.Three very reliable web sites to considerin exploring resources for veterans andtheir families are: the VA home pageat www.va.gov/portland which will allowfor movement into the regional,as well as the national system;www.supportyourvet.org was foundedby the Iraq and Afghanistan Veteransof America, in 2004 to enable one to“navigate the VA”, research “invisibleinjuries” (PTSD, TBI and relatedmental health issues) and informationabout the new, comprehensive “GIBill”; www.woundedwarriorproject.org,has evolved into America’s foremostadvocate for those who come homewith physical, psychological andspiritual wounds from today’s wars. •Beth Irish is a retired critical care RN, living inPortland, sharing life and a home with husbandEd Irish, MD, a general surgeon.To learn more about the OMA Alliancevisit www.theOMA.org or e-mail Pat Webster pat@theOMA.org.12 • Medicine in Oregon