Military & Veteran Healthcare

This presentation explores the unique healthcare challenges in the U.S. military and veteran systems. Drawing from 15 years of military medical experience, the speaker highlights critical distinctions between the VA and DOD systems, barriers to care access, staffing shortages, and referral inefficiencies. He underscores the impact of limited resources, geographic constraints, and service-specific policies on medical readiness, treatment continuity, and career retention. The talk advocates for improved provider awareness, responsible opioid prescribing, and expanded use of non-opioid, minimally invasive therapies, particularly in deployed settings. Enhanced collaboration between military, VA, and civilian sectors is essential to optimizing outcomes for this underserved population.