Program Highlights

Full Agenda Coming Soon

Advancing the Science of Military Psychological Health: Update on STRONG STAR Initiatives

Alan Peterson, PhD, ABPP (Lt Col, USAF-Ret.), Director, STRONG STAR Consortium; Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; Professor of Psychology, The University of Texas at San Antonio

“Profiles in Resilience” Presentation and Book Signing

Benjamin Hall, FOX News correspondent. Hall was critically wounded by a missile attack while reporting the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and recovered at Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio Fort Sam Houston. Hall will speak alongside his orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Joseph Alderete, to discuss key psychological factors that enhanced his resilience and facilitated the recovery process after his traumatic injury. He published two books that share his story of survival and perseverance, the latter titled, Resolute: How We Humans Keep Finding Ways to Beat the Toughest Odds, which will be available for signing after his talk.

Keynote Address: Exploring the Potential of Psychedelics to Improve PTSD Treatment Outcomes

Barbara Rothbaum, PhD, ABPP, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Associate Vice Chair of Clinical Research, Emory University School of Medicine; Executive Director, Emory Healthcare Veterans Program

Treatment for Trauma-Related Shame and Guilt

Sonya Norman, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry, University of California School of Medicine; Director, PTSD Consultation Program, National Center for PTSD

Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy: Couples Treatment for PTSD

Steffany Fredman, PhD, Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies and Psychology, and Edna Bennett Faculty Fellow in Prevention Research, The Pennsylvania State University

The Use of Socratic Questioning: Practical Guidelines for Clinicians

Stefanie LoSavio, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; Director of Research & Innovation, STRONG STAR Training Initiative

Strategies and Techniques to Address Institutional Betrayal

Vanessa Jacoby, PhD, ABPP, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; Program Director, Strong Families Support and Prevention Program

Self-Compassion and Moral Injury

Shannon Forkus, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Policy & Community Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health

Day One - Tuesday, October 22, 2024

8:00 a.m. – Welcome and Housekeeping

– Stacey Young-McCaughan, RN, PhD

8:15 a.m. – From PTSD to Psychological Health: Expanding the STRONG STAR Research Portfolio

– Alan Peterson, PhD, ABPP

8:45 a.m. – Profiles in Resilience Address: Battles Abroad and at Home

– MJ Hegar, MBA, PMP

9:45 a.m. –Break and Book Signing

10:30 a.m. – Women Veteran Panel: The Unique Perspective of Female Service Members

– Virginia Cruse, LPC-S, PhD(c) (U.S. Army Reserves Veteran)

– Nancy Dickinson, MA, PMP, CBET (MSgt, U.S. Air Force, Retired)

– Ann Hryshko-Mullen, Ph.D., ABPP-CHP, DBSM (Lt Col, U.S. Air Force, Retired)

– Darcy A. Babutzke (MSgt, U.S. Air Force, Retired)

– Dorethe Gijsbertsen, MSc (Major, Dutch MoD Royal Dutch Army, active duty)

– Violeta Reeves, MS (U.S. Army Veteran)

Moderator: Cindy McGeary, PhD, ABPP

12:00 p.m. – Lunch

1:00 p.m. – Biomarkers of Sleep Disturbance in Active Duty Service Members and Veterans: Translational Insights and Clinical Applications

Sara Mithani, PhD, RN & Fenne Smits, PhD

1:30 p.m. – Military Sexual Trauma-Related PTSD: How Can We Increase Treatment Completion/Effectiveness

– Ron Acierno, PhD

1:45 p.m. – Integration of Peer Support in Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD in Veterans Including MST Cases: A Clinical Trial Experience

– Melba Hernandez-Tejada, PhD, DHA

2:00 p.m. – VA Provider, Administrator, and Veteran Perspectives of Massed PTSD Treatment in VA PTSD Outpatient Clinics

– Stephanie Wells, PhD

2:30 p.m. – Break

3:00 p.m. – Adaptive Treatment for PTSD: Determining How to Change the Treatment Course to Maximize Efficiency and Effectiveness

– Stefanie T. LoSavio, PhD, ABPP

3:30 p.m. – Noninvasive Brain Stimulation Combined with Exposure Therapy for PTSD

– Casey Straud, PsyD, ABPP

4:15 p.m. – The Got Your 6 Network: Suicide Protection Through Collaboration

– Margaret Harrell, PhD

4:45 p.m. – Break

5:00 p.m. – Reception and Poster Session

Day Two - Wednesday, October 23, 2024

8:00 a.m. – Welcome and Housekeeping

– Stacey Young-McCaughan, RN, PhD

8:15 a.m. – Keynote Address: On Butterflies, Tornadoes, and Suicide Prevention

– Craig Bryan, PsyD, ABPP

9:15 a.m. – Break and Book Signing

10:00 a.m. – Trauma and Suicide: Navigating the Path to Recovery and Growth

– David Rozek, PhD, ABPP

10:30 a.m. – Culturally Responsive PTSD Treatment for People of Color: What We Know and Where We Need to Go

– Brittany Hall-Clark, PhD

11:00 a.m. – Innovations in Military Psychological Health: Studies Being Launched by STRONG STAR

-Alan Peterson, PhD, ABPP

– Stefanie LoSavio, PhD, ABPP

– John Moring, PhD, ABPP

– Cindy McGeary, PhD, ABPP

– Thomas Coyle, PhD

– Craig Bryan, PsyD, ABPP

– Hannah Tyler, PhD, ABPP, LPC-S

– Stacey Young-McCaughan, RN, PhD

12:00 p.m. – Lunch

1:00 p.m. – STRONG STAR Training Initiative: Insights from Expanded Trainings for Suicide Prevention

– Brooke Fina, LCSW, BCD

2:00 p.m. – Dreaming Big: Testing and Launching a Web-Based Provider Training for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Nightmares

– Kristi E. Pruiksma, PhD, DBSM

2:30 p.m. – Break

3:00 p.m. – Socrates 2.0: A Generative Artificial Intelligence Tool to Improve PTSD Treatment

– Philip Held, PhD

3:30 p.m. – Ask an Expert Clinician

– Ron Acierno, PhD

– Tabatha Blount, PhD

– Brittany Hall-Clark, PhD

– Philip Held, PhD

– Kristi E. Pruiksma, PhD, DBSM

– Stephanie Wells, PhD

Moderator: Barbara Niles, PhD

4:30 p.m. – Closing Remarks: Summary Thoughts from the 9th Annual San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference and Future Directions

– Robert I. Miller, MD, MBA, MSS, FAAP, FACHE, FACPE