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”.
Panels
Panel 1: Improving Mental Well-Being for Children and Families
Panel 2: Improving the Clinical Experience & Connections to Care
Panel 3: Healing Arts Community - Building Wellness & Strengthening Resiliency
Panel 4: Moral Injury
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
Itinerary
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
9:20am - Opening Keynote
Barbara Van Dahlen, PhD - Co-Founder and CEO WeBe Life
Hero’s Journey Advocacy Leader Award
9:45am - Hero Defender Award
Rep. Mariannette Miller Meeks, Iowa 1st District
10:00am - 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
11:00am - Health Defender Award
Rep. Seth Moulton, Massachusetts 6th District
11:15am - 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
12:15Pm - Lunch
Break
1:15 Pm - Afternoon Keynote
The Honorable James Carroll - Former Director of White House Office of National Drug Control Policy - “US Drug Czar”, John P Mayhugh Foundation Hero’s Journey Lifetime Achievement Award
1:30pm - 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
3:00pm - 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
4:15pm - Closing Remarks
Col. Mary Lowe Mayhugh (Ret.), Founder & President
4:30pm - Reception
Thank You To Our Sponsors!