This presentation will provide an overview of studies examining the association of TBI and epilepsy followed by findings of outcomes among Veterans with epilepsy, TBI and both conditions compared to similar Veterans without either condition. We will conclude with an overview of preliminary data of the self-reported health impacts of individuals who provide care to Veterans with these conditions.
Mary Jo Pugh Ph.D., R.N., is a retired Air Force nurse and Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Epidemiology at the University of Utah School of Medicine.
Integrating her training as a Veteran, a nurse, and a developmental psychologist, she developed a research program to examine the long-term sequelae and outcomes of military exposures. Over the past decade she has targeted her work using VA data to identify phenotypes in populations with complex comorbidity such as those with traumatic brain injury (TBI), epilepsy, and Gulf War illness. Dr. Pugh’s current work includes longitudinal studies to identify the emergence of distinct neurodegenerative conditions such as cognitive impairment and epilepsy, and clusters of multimorbidity that may have similar or networked biological underpinnings. Her longitudinal observational studies of approximately 1.6 million Veterans currently link Department of Defense (DoD) data with VA health system data to understand the impact of military exposures. These studies aim to understand which individuals are at highest risk of neurodegeneration, chronic disease and deficits in functional outcomes after TBI. Understanding the importance of caregivers in the health of service members and Veterans her work also examines the health impact of caring for Veterans with complex comorbidity in family caregivers.
Erin Bouldin, PhD, MPH is trained as an epidemiologist and health services researcher. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Utah and an Investigator in Health Systems Research at the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center. Her research interests include family caregiving, cognitive decline, disability, and home- and community-based services. She often focuses on the experiences of Veterans and their families and on people living in rural areas.
Dr. Delgado is a health scientist, Professor/Military Research Scholar, and the Director of the Caring for the Caregiver Program at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, School of Nursing. She is also the co-founder of TBI WarriorTM Foundation. Her research focuses on predictors and health outcomes in military caregivers, with an emphasis on the long-term trajectory of disease and illness. Her professional experience was inspired by her firsthand experience as the wife of a combat Veteran and Purple Heart Recipient. She is a nationally recognized speaker, author, researcher, and avid advocate for traumatic brain injury and the science of caregiving. She serves on various advisory boards to inform national policies and programs for Veterans and caregivers. A 2015-16 Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellow representing the State of Texas, she is passionate about what she does, and her goal is to dedicate her life and profession to contributing to science and helping wounded, ill and injured Veterans and their caregivers discover ways to thrive.
