Partners
2023 Hero’s Journey Symposium
About
The Hero’s Journey Symposium is comprised of facilitated panel discussions and a closing synthesis session. The panel discussions bring together a wide array of stakeholders, including brain health researchers, physicians, military leaders, public policy experts, and community advocates. Our outcomes include shaping a “call to action” for a public information campaign; providing a collective sharing of best practices; identifying policy and research gaps; and providing a white paper summarizing the current state of affairs and offering solutions to create
“better pathways to recovery, from wounds to wellness”.
Sponsors
Watch The Panels
Panel 1: Improving Mental Well-Being for
Children and Families
Panel 3: Healing Arts Community
Building Wellness & Strengthening Resiliency
Panel 2: Improving the Clinical Experience &
Connections to Care
Panel 4: Moral Injury
American College of Surgeons Conference Center
20 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
14 September 2023
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Reception 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Special Guests
The Honorable
James Carroll
Former Director of White House Office of National Drug Control Policy
The Honorable
Seth Moulton
Congressman
Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional District
The Honorable
Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Congresswoman
Iowa’s 1st Congressional District
8:00 AM - Doors Open and Networking
9:15 AM - Opening Remarks
Col. Mary Lowe Mayhugh (Ret.) - Founder & President, John P Mayhugh Foundation
Mistress of Ceremonies: Deb Harmon Pugh
9:20 AM - Opening Keynote, Hero’s Journey Advocacy Leader Award
Barbara Van Dahlen, PhD - Co-Founder and CEO WeBe Life9:45 AM - Hero Defender Award
Rep. Mariannette Miller Meeks, Iowa 1st District10:00 AM - Panel 1: Improving Mental Well-Being for Children and Families
Facilitator: Thomas Trail - Senior Behavioral Scientist, RAND Corporation
Cheryl Austein Casnoff - Managing Director, MITRE Healthcare Payment Innovation & Quality Division
Grace Caulfield - Easter Seals Cohen Military Familiy Clinic
Rachel Katherine Linsner - D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University
11:00 AM - Health Defender Award
Rep. Seth Moulton, Massachusetts 6th District11:15 AM - Panel 2: Improving the Clinical Experience and Connections to Care
Facilitator: Dr. Kimberly Albero, DNP, RN, FNP - Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy Nurse Corps
Justin Dahse - National Suicide Prevention Coordinator
Emily Bentley - Director of Opioid Response, City of Alexandria, Virginia
Lisa Eggebeen - Regional Director, The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinics at Centerstone
12:15 PM - Lunch Break
1:15 PM - Afternoon Keynote, John P Mayhugh Foundation Hero’s Journey Lifetime Achievement Award
The Honorable James Carroll - Former Director of White House Office of National Drug Control Policy - “US Drug Czar”1:30 PM - Panel 3: Healing Arts Community - Building Wellness and Strengthening Resiliency
Facilitator: Ben King - Armor Down, Mindful Memorial Day
Edward Krzysik - Chief Strategy Officer, The Washington Tattoo
Annette Polan - Faces of the Fallen, Professor Emeritas at Corcoran College of Art & Design, George Washington University
Dr. Sharon Jennings-Rohas - DOM; M.Ac.; L.Ac.; RT (NADA), MUIH, Department Chair
3:00 PM - Panel 4: Moral Injury
Facilitator: Kathleen Koch - Founder, LeadersLink
Dr. Barton D. Buechner - Captain, US Navy (Ret), Senior Adjunct Faculty, Military Psychology MA Program Adler Global Campus
Timothy Torres - Executive Director of Moral Compass Federation
Dr. Melissa Smigelsky - VA Integrative Mental Health, Doctor of Philosophy
Dr. Jason Nieuwsma - Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Associate Director for VA Integrative Mental Health
4:15 PM - Closing Remarks
Col. Mary Lowe Mayhugh (Ret.), Founder & President4:30 PM - Reception
Thank You To Our Sponsors!
