About Us

Boston University created the Center for Military Health (formerly known as BU Center for Military and Post Deployment Health) in 2015 to coordinate programming on military medical issues affecting veterans and service members, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury. The Center will build on the work of the Joining Forces conference held annually at Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and will include the development of an interdisciplinary research center, clinical care initiatives, educational curricula, and outreach efforts.

Research

Boston University is a leader in military health research, with more than $50 million of DoD funding in this area in the past five years. Boston University faculty are involved in cutting-edge research across a broad spectrum of military health topics, from brain injury to wound healing to biomedical engineering to family welfare. This research informs clinical practice and improves patient care for military members and veterans across the country and around the globe.

The Center for Military Health will continue and expand Boston University’s research efforts by promoting collaboration, identifying opportunities presented by regional and national funding priorities, pursuing new avenues for funding, and enabling broader dissemination of research findings.

Education

Boston University recognizes the need for increased curricular efforts around military and post-deployment health. Our educators are working with the school’s Division of Military Education to develop and deliver curriculum aimed at increasing Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) awareness of and knowledge about health issues and conditions prevalent among military members. We believe that if we give our ROTC members a better understanding of their own health, they will be better able to protect their health and to recognize early signs and symptoms of illness.

We are also creating curriculum for dental, medical, rehabilitation, and public health students aimed at increasing medical health professionals’ knowledge about health conditions common to military and veteran patients.

Clinical Practice

Boston University is committed to improving the clinical care of service members and their families. This care includes prevention and treatment efforts for both physical and psychological health, and participation in state-of-the-art research studies. Our faculty care for patients at the VABHS and at BMC, at Sargent College, and even provide some case specific care in patient homes.

Outreach

According to the 2015 Blue Star Families Survey, 90% of our service members say the general public does not truly understand the sacrifices they make every day. Through research, education, and clinical care initiatives, Boston University faculty have contributed greatly toward improved medical care for our military members and veterans. But much more is needed. Public understanding of military medical issues is critical to ensuring that support for clinical care initiatives and research continues and grows. Collaboration with external partners not only enables us to increase awareness about current research and clinical care, it provides new opportunities for partnerships in these areas.

To this end, the Center will work with cultural, educational, corporate, and community partners to identify opportunities for collaboration, increase communication and community relations efforts, and enhance public dissemination of Boston University research and clinical advances.

Read more about the Center in BU Today.