Fall 2022 - 17

clinical and rehabilitative medicine, and
infectious diseases.
Rebecca Hill, of MHS Communications, was
at the symposium and summarized a few of
the presenting speakers' findings. Below is
an excerpt from Hill's reporting at the Military
Health System Research Symposium.
Trauma Care on the Battlefield and at Home
MHSRS highlighted how research not only
benefits our warfighters but offers solutions.
Presenters gave high-level overviews of their
research, sharing insights and advancements
that may improve care on and off the
battlefield.
Dr. Edward Mazuchowski from Forensic
Pathology Associates in Allentown,
Pennsylvania, shared his research on " United
States Military Fatalities during Operation New
Dawn, Operation Inherent Resolve,
and Operation Freedom's Sentinel. "
Mazuchowski reiterated a now-known data
point from the past 20 years of conflicts:
One of the leading causes of casualties is
hemorrhages. The study of fatalities can guide
prevention and treatment efforts focusing on
common and unique injuries and diseases.
Findings may help inform clinical guidelines,
training, requirements for equipment, and
future research.
Dr. Michael Roy of the Uniformed Services
University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda,
Maryland, discussed the " Evaluation of U.S.
Special Operations Personnel During Heavy
Weapons Training: the Investigating Training
Associated Blast Pathology (INVICTA)
Study. " Roy reviewed cases of chronic
traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, in athletes
with repetitive subconcussive exposures,
and service members with repeated
subconcussive blast exposure.
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The Future of Pain Management and
Mental Health
As pain management and mental health is an
ongoing focus for the Department of Defense,
MHSRS presenters showcased research
into pain and behavioral health care, as well
as additional topics on various concerns for
military medicine.
Lauren Walker from the Uniformed Services
University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda,
Maryland, presented research on " Mental
Health Diagnoses and Suicide Attempts in
Combat-injured Service Members: A DOD/VA
Retrospective Cohort Study. " Her team found
there were increased suicide attempts in those
who were injured in combat compared to those
who had not deployed or had not suffered
an injury during their time in combat. They
investigated the comparison between those
who were receiving mental health care over
those who were not, and the rates of attempts
for suicide between the groups. Other factors
such as alcohol usage, those with posttraumatic
stress disorders, anxiety, depression,
bipolar, and adjustment disorders factored into
their research. n
To learn more about the Military Health
System Research Symposium, how to get
involved, and view more information, visit
mrsrs.health.mil/SitePages/Home.aspx.
http://mrsrs.health.mil/SitePages/Home.aspx http://www.tacticaltrainingandconditioning.com
Fall 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Fall 2022
