Citizen Soldier:
The Invisible Wounds of War
Working with Montana service
members, veterans and their families
A professional education program designed to share practical information about
military culture and the needs and concerns of service members, veterans and
military families. Topics include Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD),
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and the
impact on individuals and their families.
When:
Friday, March 9, 0900-1630
Where:
Cameron Auditorium, East Campus South Tower
Benefis Health System
1101 26th Street South
Great Falls, MT 59406
Who should attend: Primary Care Providers, Psychologists, Social Workers,
Professional Counselors, Registered Nurses, Physical Therapists, SpeechLanguage Pathologists and Audiologists, Occupational Therapists and all
other health care professionals who provide services to service members,
veterans and military families. There should be no wrong door to which veterans and
their families can come for help. This program is for mental health professionals and
primary care providers who want to expand their perspective and gain better
understanding of how to connect with and help our combat veterans and their families.
http://wmtahec.org
http://ncmtahec.org
Back By Popular Demand…“Amazing, inspiring, invigorating, motivating and helpful.” “I am
now better prepared to identify and refer veterans to appropriate sites who may be experiencing PTSD or
TBI symptoms.” —Participants’ evaluations from original Citizen Soldier conference in Missoula
Background
For the first time in history, 90% of soldiers survive their injuries. However, as of September 2009, mental health
problems were the second most common health problem among these soldiers who have returned home from
Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF). These issues extend to the families of service
members and veterans. While VA facilities have specialists trained in post-traumatic stress disorder, only 40% of
returning OEF/OIF veterans are enrolled in the VA. This means that the civilian healthcare workforce must come
together around this issue. Since 38% of veterans live in rural or highly rural areas, this issue is of particular concern to
a highly rural state such as Montana.
Learning Objectives
1) Describe the scope of the problems of PTSD, TBI and MST among service members, veterans and their families
2) Translate the current knowledge of trauma and PTSD into a combat/military context
3) Develop an understanding of military culture and how to use this to establish credibility and effectiveness of
treatment
4) Develop an awareness of the brain and how Traumatic Brain Injury occurs
5) Increase ability to identify the effects of PTSD and TBI and impacts on life, such as employment and family
relationships
6) Create a therapeutic alliance with combat veterans and their families from assessment through treatment
7) Provide appropriate care and counsel for patients and their families
Continuing Education Credits
Physicians: Accreditation Statement: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the
Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Education through the joint sponsorship of the
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine Education and Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. The
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing education for physicians.
Credit Designation Statement: The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of
6.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their
participation in the activity.
Nurses: Credit Designation Statement: This educational activity for 6.0 contact hours is provided by Postgraduate
Institute for Medicine.
Accreditation Statement: Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing
education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
Social Workers, Professional Counselors, Licensed Addiction Counselors, Marriage & Family
Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech-Language Pathologists: This program has been approved
for 6.0 hours by the Montana Board of Social Work Examiners and Professional Counselors, the Montana Board of
Occupational Therapy Practice, and the Montana Speech and Hearing Association
Psychologists: This Continuing Education offering meets the requirements of the Board of Psychology in that it deals
primarily with substantive psychological issues and has significant intellectual and practical content.
**A statement of credit will be issued only upon receipt of a completed activity evaluation form and will be mailed to
you within three weeks.
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) requires instructors, planners, managers and other individuals who are in a
position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest they may have as
related to the content of this activity. All identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by PIM for fair balance,
scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content, and appropriateness of
patient care recommendations.
Speaker Bios
Dr. Michael Marks: Dr. Marks is the Lead Psychologist at the Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System (SAVAHCS),
where he also directs the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Outpatient Clinic. He developed the Supportive
Education for Returning Veterans (SERV) program at the University of Arizona, where he has taught courses in
Resiliency, Teaching and Leadership. Prior to joining the SAVAHCS team, Dr. Marks was Clinical Psychologist at
Missoula Psychological Medicine, PLLP. He has taught at the University of Montana on the issues faced by mental
health workers in rural/frontier areas. Dr. Marks earned his Masters and PhD in Clinical Psychology from
Washington State University.
Brigadier General (Ret.) Hal Stearns: Teaching and the military have been the dual career paths of Brigadier
General Hal Stearns. He completed his civilian education at the University of Notre Dame and the University of
Montana and his military education at OCS, Command and General Staff and the Army War College. In his military
career, he attained the rank of brigadier general through service in the Montana Army National Guard. Dr.-BG Stearns
has taught high school in Montana and Germany and has been honored as Montana’s Teacher of the Year and as
Montana’s Outstanding US History Teacher. He has also taught and administered graduate programs for the
University of Montana. Currently, he works as a researcher, writer and lecturer on the Great Plains and American
West.
Staff Sergeant Dustin Monroe: Dustin Monroe is a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army. He is a veteran of
Operation Iraqi Freedom, having served two tours in Iraq. He participated in the battles of Najaf and Fallujah which
were major turning points in the war. In his second tour, SSG Monroe was injured by a IED blast while conducting a
patrol in Najaf. Dustin was honorably discharged from the Military and then chose to serve in the Army Reserves.
While serving the Army Reserves, he was called back to Active Duty to help start-up the Wounded Warrior Brigade at
Walter Reed Army Hospital. After his year-long tour at Walter Reed, Dustin came back to Montana and finished his
business degree. He now serves as Executive Director of the Montana United Indian Association.
Dr. Christine King: Christine King, PsyD, LMFT, LCPC, is the counselor/team leader of the Great Falls Vet Center,
which opened in October 2010 to provide outreach, advocacy and readjustment counseling to veterans, who have
served in war zones and/or Military Sexual trauma, as well as their families. Grief counseling is also provided to
families of deceased active duty military members. Prior to her work in Great Falls, Dr. King was contracted by the
Missoula Vet Center to serve primarily the Rocky Boy and Fort Belknap reservations. A former Seattle Police officer,
counseling is her second career. She holds a Master of Science degree in Counseling and a Doctorate in Clinical
Psychology. Her training and education focus has been in providing treatment to individuals, couples, families and
groups that have survived a trauma.
Christian Belcourt: Christian Belcourt served active duty in the US Army from 1988 until 1992 and in the Army
Reserves until 2001, following in the footsteps of her father, who served in Vietnam. During her military career, she
served as a Specialist E4 and a Combat Signaler. In her current home of Havre, Christian is organizing a support for
female veterans living along the Hi-Line. She has also recently been appointed as a Tribal Veterans Representative for
Fort Belknap. In this role she will assist veterans in applying for any benefits that they may qualify for. She is married
and is the mother of three children, one of whom just returned from Iraq.
Registration Information
To register online, please go to https://www.regonline.com/citizensoldier
To register via mail, cut off the form on the last page and mail with payment enclosed to:
Kim Wiens
MHA
1720 9th Ave
Helena, MT 59601
Registration fees include lunch, continuing education units, certificate of participation and all conference materials.
Registration is limited to 120 participants, so please register early to avoid being placed on a waiting list.
Early Bird Fee (before February 9): $75
Regular Conference Fee: $100
Questions? Regarding conference logistics: Jody Haines at 406-467-2455 or [email protected]
Regarding continuing education: Annē Linn at 406-243-5575 or [email protected]
Regarding registration: Kim Wiens at 406-457-8017 or [email protected]
Agenda
0830-0900
Registration
0900-0915
Welcome, Presentation of Flags and Pledge of Allegiance
0915-0930
Introduction and Scope of the Issues (Dr. Michael Marks, Southern AZ VA)
0930-1030
Military Culture (BG (Ret.) Hal Stearns)
1030-1045
Break
1045-1145
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder/Traumatic Brain Injury/Combat Operational Stress and
Assessment (Dr. Michael Marks)
1145-1230
Boots on the Ground: The Combat Experience (Dustin Monroe, Operation
Iraqi Freedom Veteran)
1230-1315
Lunch (provided)
1315-1400
Clinical Practice Guidelines and Treatment Resources (Dr. Michael Marks)
1400-1415
Great Falls Vet Center Services (Christine King, Great Falls Vet Center)
1415-1445
Military Sexual Trauma (Christine King and Christian Belcourt)
1445-1500
Break
1500-1530
SERV: From Soldier to Citizen (Dr. Michael Marks)
1530-1615
Beyond Diagnosis—subclinical issues/adjustments, family concerns (Dr. Michael Marks)
1615-1630
Call to Action
This conference is jointly sponsored by the Western
Interstate Commission for Higher Education and the
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine. Thank you to our
partners:
* Western Montana AHEC
* Great Falls Vet Center
* North Central Montana AHEC
* Benefis Health System
* MHA...An Association of Montana Health Care Providers
Citizen Soldier: Participant Registration
Name:_______________________________________________________________
Profession:____________________________________________________________
Organization:__________________________________________________________
Address:______________________________________________________________
Phone number:_________________________________________________________
E-mail:_______________________________________________________________
Special dietary or other restrictions?___________________________________________
__Registration Fee Paid. Make checks out to MHREF (Montana Health Research and Education Foundation)
__Please contact me with information about group rate lodging in Great Falls