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The Military Health Institute: development stages of TRC4. This initiative has brought research funding
to the university and The University of Texas System, and has broadened
faculty and student opportunities to conduct military health research. The
Supporting Health Innovation for our Military executive director of TRC4 stated, “MHI has been an integral part of
the success of TRC4 and continues to show great value as a long-term
collaborative partner.” MHI assisted the university in obtaining over $20
By Micah C. Wright, PhD million to fund these initiatives and continues to work collaboratively to
ensure their success and longevity at the university.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio’s Mili- the associate vice president and director of the Military Health Institute, The Veteran and Caregiver Health Partnership (VCHP) lever-
tary Health Institute (MHI) was created in 2014 to enhance collaboration describes the lecture as “a special opportunity for anyone wanting to col- ages UT Health San Antonio resources to create health programs for the
with the Department of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Administration laborate with innovators and emerging scientists who globally impact mil- military-affiliated community. These programs are in partnership with
(VA). As a healthcare leader in San Antonio — also referred to as Military itary health.” Past lectures have included directors of the Defense Health UT Health Science Center San Antonio schools and centers such as the
City, USA — the university, also called UT Health San Antonio, under- Agency, such as retired VADM. Raquel Bono and retired LTG. Ron Place, schools of medicine, nursing and dentistry, and the Mays Cancer Cen-
stood the need to partner and promote military health. The mission of the as well as retired Army surgeon general and former secretary of Veterans ter, as well as with the South Texas Veterans Affairs Social Work Services. The Trauma Research and Combat Casualty Care Collaborative, 2024
Military Health Institute is to enhance the military health research, educa- Affairs, James Peake, MD. Program manager, Micah Wright, PhD, explains: “forming partnerships
tion and clinical activities of UT Health San Antonio, improving the lives with other schools and community resources that are interested in serving
of our military service members, veterans and their families. The university The Joe and Patty Robles Endowed Postdoctoral Fellow- this population is the first step in making a bigger impact for the military
understands the complexity and challenges to the military health system, ship in Military Health offers an opportunity for emerging scholars to affiliated community, especially those who live in areas with less access to
and the MHI is actively working collaboratively with partners across the participate in research that impacts military health. The past fellows have health services.” The partnership will pilot two events this summer: The Micah C. Wright, PhD, is the Program Manager at The
U.S. to help address those challenges. helped to shape the way we serve the military community. For example, Mays Cancer Center Listening Sessions and the Veteran and Caregiver Military Health Institute.
In the 10 years since its inception, MHI has advanced a military health Roxana Delgado, PhD, MS, a tenured professor and scholar of military Health Resource Fair at the Kerrville VA Medical Center. Both events are
focus across the university. The institute has instilled a heightened interest research in the UT Health Science Center’s School of Nursing, and the aimed at not only providing support, but also to find innovative ways of
in DoD and VA research. Since 2014, faculty at UT Health San Antonio current director of the Caring for the Caregiver program, boosted her improving healthcare for military-affiliated populations.
have earned over $86 million in DoD health research funding. The insti- career at UT Health Science Center San Antonio as the MHI’s first post- Over the last 10 years, the Military Health Institute has significant-
tute contributes to many initiatives for the university including a number doctoral fellow. She has contributed nationally through her scholarship ly enhanced UT Health San Antonio’s focus on military health. In the
of leading initiatives. and input to the 2014 RAND Report, Hidden Heroes: America’s Military next 10 years, the MHI will continue to be a catalyst and academic lead-
The Distinguished Lecture Series is a recurring event that hosts Caregivers, and the 2023 Caring for Veterans and Their Families: A Guide er, enhancing efforts to revolutionize combat medicine and veteran and
senior military leaders and emerging researchers who are making an impact for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals. caregiver care. The military landscape is continuously changing, and the
in military health. Historically occurring in both the fall and spring semes- Sponsored by the MHI, The Military Health Interest Group associated medical threats to our service members, veterans and their fam-
ters, the Distinguished Lecture Series has provided meaningful network- (MHIG) is a student led organization that provides educational oppor- ilies require innovation. MHI will foster that innovation and help conquer
ing opportunities for researchers and community leaders interested in tunities for students interested in military health. These opportunities — the challenges that lie ahead to best serve our active military and veteran
collaboration. Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Byron Hepburn, MD, FAAFP, events, networking and volunteering — provide insight into the world of communities.
military health. MHIG has conducted
programs such as a wounded warrior
panel discussion, where students, facul-
ty and staff learned about caring for this
important population. Most recently,
a panel discussion on DoD-funded
research showcased student opportu-
nities to conduct research. The current
MHIG president, a first-year medi-
cal student, Air Force 2nd Lt. Omar
Valencia, explains, “MHIG is focused
on connecting students to military
opportunities to not only increase
their understanding of the military,
but to also spark their career interest in
serving our military, veterans and their
families.”
The Trauma Research and
Combat Casualty Care Collabora-
tive (TRC4) is a recent research initia-
tive. MHI played an important role in
the strategic planning and institutional
The Military Health Interest Group Promotion Veterans Lecture, 2023

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