UK Faculty Contribute to Handbook on Veteran's Health

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 30, 2012) — Nov. 11 is set aside every year in the United States to commemorate veterans who have served to protect our country. Serving in the military often comes with a heavy price, and many veterans come away from that experience with different health needs and challenges than what civilians may face.

A multidisciplinary group of faculty and advisors from the University of Kentucky have collaborated with national and international contributors to publish "The Praeger Handbook of Veterans' Health: History, Challenges, Issues, and Developments," a four-volume set of books on veterans healthcare that examines programs of care and veterans' special needs, and offers insight into future directions for veteran's healthcare in the 21st century.

Dr. Thomas Miller, professor emeritus, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, served as editor for all four volumes and contributed thirteen chapters.

"The VA does an enormous amount of good in both its clinical care and in its research that benefits all humankind. These four volumes are aimed at educating the public and professionals on the quality of healthcare veterans receive through the Veterans Health Administration national network," Miller said.

Four key elements make up this series, with Volume I offering a history of veterans' health care, the various veterans' eras, and the healthcare provided veterans in such countries as England, Australia, Canada, China, Israel and Russia.  Volume II examines several of the medical and surgical programs of care including cardiology, diabetes, cancer and neurology. It also examines veterans' special needs including cultural and individual differences, womens veterans care, Native American needs and the well-respected veteran’s prosthetic program. Volume III addresses mental health care and rehabilitation for veterans and their families and focuses in on both PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury. Volume IV offers insights into future directions for veterans' healthcare in the United States and the special role of service organization and non-governmental programs advancing care to veteran and their families in need.

Veterans represent a significant percentage of the U.S. national population. In May 2011, the Department of Veterans Affairs estimated that approximately 2,079,000 American veterans are still living. Continued healthcare for these more than two million veterans remains a critical focus and presents a significant challenge.

The Praeger Handbook of Veterans' Health is a comprehensive contribution to understanding veterans' healthcare and draws on a national and international cadre of scientists and practitioners, both within the Department of Veterans Affairs and specialists beyond the institution, providing a matrix view of veteran's healthcare, past, present, and future.

UK contributors include Dr. Thomas Miller, Dr. James Holsinger, professor and chair in the Department of Health Services Management in the College of  Public Health,  Dr. David Booth, professor, Saha Cardiovascular Research Center, College of Medicine,  Dr. Phillip DeSimone, professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine,  Dr. James Anderson, professor emeritus of Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, College of Medicine, and Dr. Robert Fitz, retired VA and UK faculty member.  Dr. James McCormick, professor, division chief, and director of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, College of Medicine, and Dr. Edward Kasarskis, chief, Veterans Affairs Neurology Service, professor in the Department of  Neurology, College of Medicine served in an advisory role in the development of these volumes.

Dr. John Booss, professor emeritus, departments of Neurology and Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine says that "the Praeger Handbook of Veterans Health is a remarkable achievement. Highly informative, it covers an astonishing array of topics. The special health care needs of veterans are emphasized in the context of programs developed in the Department of Veterans Affairs to meet those needs. In so doing the Handbook honors veterans and those who care for them." 

Dr. Sara Smucker Barnwell, director, Telemental Health, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle Division, said,  "The Praeger Handbook of Veterans’ Health delivers a masterfully comprehensive discourse on topics most salient to Veteran care in the past, present and future. Simultaneously exhaustive and constructive, this collection provides historical context, actionable insights and thought leadership critical to the evolution of Veteran care and large systems of care generally. Dr. Miller convenes a panel of nationally renowned researchers and clinicians to educate and evoke thought among readers unfamiliar with the VA system as well as those with seasoned careers serving Veterans. The implications of this unprecedented work for the care of Veterans and civilians alike cannot be overstated."

MEDIA CONTACT: Ann Blackford, (859)312-3587; ann.blackford@uky.edu