MIRECC / CoE

Dr. Jan Lindsay, Michael E. DeBakey VAMC, Houston, TX

Dr. Lindsay’s work to increase use of telehealth, especially due to the COVID pandemic, has had a major impact on the continuity and quality of care to Veterans and was one of the major successes of the SC MIRECC in 2020. Dr. Lindsay was also recognized as the lead author for a paper describing the rollout of video telehealth in VA and careful documentation of the implementation process.

Lindsay JA, Day SC, Amspoker AB, Fletcher TL, Hogan J, Day G, Helm A, Stanley MA, & Martin LA (2019). Personalized implementation of video telehealth. The Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 42(4), 563-574.

Dr. Anthony Ecker, Michael E. DeBakey VAMC, Houston, TX

Dr. Ecker was recognized as lead author for a high impact paper on reducing suicidal ideation among Veterans.

Ecker AH, Johnson AL, Sansgiry S, Fletcher TL, Hundt N, Petersen NJ, Sweeney, AC, Chaison AD, York-Ward KM, Kauth MR, Kunik ME, & Cully JA (2019). Brief cognitive behavioral therapy reduces suicidal ideation in Veterans with chronic illnesses. General Hospital Psychiatry, 58, 27-32.

Dr. Sara Landes, Central Arkansas VAMC, Little Rock, AR

Dr. Landes was recognized for her work and dedication to mentoring research trainees, including SC MIRECC fellows and early career faculty.

Dr. Joseph Boffa, Southeast Louisiana VAMC, New Orleans, LA

Dr. Boffa received this award for his work on rural suicide prevention in response to COVID-19.

Boffa JW, Houtsma C, Raines AM, Franklin CL, Constans JI, Schmidt NB, & Jones KR (2020). Rural suicide prevention in response to COVID-19: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Journal of Rural Mental Health, 44(3), 143–145.

Dr. Danielle Newman, Alexandria VAMC, Alexandria, LA

Dr. Newman, a clinical psychologist at the Alexandria VA Medical Center, was recognized for her work as a champion for the Therametrics Program, which strategically targets increased use of measurement-based care practices. Dr. Newman led a team of providers at the Alexandria VAMC and, collectively, their work produced important changes to the quality of care delivered to Veterans. Notably, these changes occurred during the challenges of the current pandemic.

Drs. Carey Pulverman and Suzannah Creech, VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans, Waco, TX

Drs. Pulverman and Creech received this award for quality and impact of their clinical education product, Sexual Health After Military Sexual Trauma. Several thousand copies have been printed by VA facilities across the country, and it was downloaded over 3300 times in FY2020.