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 Life

  • 9:45 AM - Hero Defender Award
    Rep. Mariannette Miller Meeks, Iowa 1st District

  • 10:00 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 District

  • 11:15 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 & President

  • 4:30 PM - Reception

    Thank You To Our Sponsors!