Renowned military, government and civilian medical experts will discuss advances in posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, humanitarian assistance and global infectious disease and explore the collaborative future of health advancements at the Partnership for Military Medicine Symposium on Nov. 6 at the Omni Shoreham in Washington, D.C.
The meeting will kick off a two-day event, "Country United: Advancing Medicine from the Frontlines to the Homefront," a partnership that includes The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Tug McGraw Foundation, and Grammy-winning country music stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. The event includes the Nov. 6 symposium and the Country United Gala on Nov. 7. TriWest Healthcare Alliance is Country United's presenting sponsor.
The symposium aims to encourage public/private collaborations to accelerate advances in care for wounded, ill and injured warriors and civilians. General James F. Amos, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, will present the morning keynote address. A Naval aviator by trade, Amos commanded the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in combat during Operations Iraqi Freedom I and II from 2002 to 2004, then took command of the II Marine Expeditionary Force from 2004 to 2006. He subsequently served as the commanding general, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, and as the deputy commandant, combat development and integration, from 2006 to July 2008. Amos was promoted to his present rank and assumed the duties of assistant commandant of the Marine Corps in July 2008.
Faith Hill will offer the luncheon keynote address and will be joined by Lieutenant Colonel Gregory Gadson, who lost his legs to a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2007. He was the first amputee to be outfitted with a next-generation prosthetic knee that features artificial intelligence and sensor technology that makes it possible for above-the-knee amputees to walk with increased confidence and safety and a more natural gait. A West Point graduate and Army football player, Gadson was the honorary chaplain for the New York Giants. His talk with the team is credited with helping to motivate the NFL team to win their division and ultimately Super Bowl XLII.
Other symposium speakers include:
- Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
- Dr. Robert Ursano, founding director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
- Dr. W. Craig Vanderwagen, former assistant secretary for preparedness and response, Department of Health and Human Services
- Dr. James Kelly, director of the National Intrepid Center of Excellence
- Dr. Stephen Cozza, director, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Child and Family Programs
- Dr. Jasmeet Pannu Hayes, assistant professor of clinical psychology, Duke University, and OIF/OEF Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic at Durham VA Medical Center.