2024 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”.

Read the 2024 Hero’s Journey Symposium Report (PDF, 1.1 MB)

Watch the Panels

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

General Peter W. Chiarelli, U.S. Army (Ret)

32nd Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, Military Assistant to Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates

Rep. Mike Waltz, Florida 6th District

Colonel (Ret) in the National Guard First Green Beret elected to Congress

  • 8:00 AM - Doors Open and Networking

  • 9:00 AM - Opening Remarks, Award Presentation
    Mary Lowe Mayhugh, Founder & President
    Susan I. Wranik, Mistress of Ceremonies

  • 9:10 AM - Opening Keynote, Hero’s Journey Lifetime Achievement Award
    General Peter W. Chiarelli, U.S. Army (Retired)

  • 10:00 AM - Panel 1: Improving Mental Well-Being for Our Military Children, Families and Caregivers

    • Dr. Evelyn Lewis, Facilitator

    • Panel: Kezia Edmonson, Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth, Lisell Perez-Rogers

  • 11:15 AM - Panel 2: Innovation in Mental Health Treatment (New Technologies & Integrative Models of Care)

    • Dr. Kimberly Albero, Facilitator

    • Panel: Donald Franklin, Gary Hess, Lisa Peterson, Matthew Tucker

  • 12:15 PM - Lunch Break

  • 1:15 PM - Welcome to the Afternoon Session

  • 1:45 PM - Hero Defender Award
    Representative Mike Waltz, Florida, 6th District

  • 2:05 PM - Panel 3: Healing Arts and the Art of Healing

    • AnnMarie Halterman, Facilitator

    • Panel: Gioia Chilton, Lisa Simms Booth, Nik Turk

  • 3:15 PM - Panel 4: Supporting Wounds to Wellness – Connecting Community Resources

    • Deborah Harmon-Pugh, Facilitator

    • Panel: Rawle Andrews, Jr., Esq., Nicholas Armstrong

  • 4:15 PM - Closing

  • 4:30 PM - Reception

Thank You to Our Sponsors!