Read what's new at the SC MIRECC in our Summer 2018 newsletter

South Central MIRECC Communique Newsletter

SC MIRECC Communique Newsletter-  Summer 2018, Volume 20, Issue 4

2018 grant writing scholars and program directors

2018 Grant Writing Scholars Evaluation Results

In February, the 2018 class of SC MIRECC Grant Writing Scholars (GWS) participated in a grant writing workshop in Little Rock. The GWS program provides investigators with individual mentoring and didactic training in successful grant writing. The program prepares scholars for submitting grants to funding agencies such as SC MIRECC, VA Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Scholars from Jackson, New Orleans, and Houston participated in-person and virtually from meeting rooms in Houston, Jackson, and New Orleans.

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In This Issue

2018 VA Operational Plan

VA released a new Operational Plan to improve organizational functions and deliver better choices for Veterans in Spring 2018. This plan is built on former Secretary David J. Shulkin’s Five Priorities for VA. Our SC MIRECC mission to promote equity in engagement, access, and quality of mental health care for Veterans facing barriers to care, especially rural Veterans, aligns with several of the plan’s goals and objectives. Here we list a few of these and note our work to address the goals.

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2018 trips program awardees

2018 TRIPS Awardees  

The Training Residents in Psychiatry Scholarship (TRIPS) program aims to increase the number of psychiatry residents entering postresidency research training fellowships in VISNs 16 and 17. It also increases the visibility of the SC MIRECC, improves resident perception of VA and careers within VA, and recognizes residents with academic medicine interests and promise.

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reasearch to practice logo

Research to Practice: Incorporating Emotion-Regulation Skills in Couple- and Family-based PTSD Treatment

A 2017 review by VA researchers explored the value of incorporating emotion-regulation skills in couple- and family-based treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Authors of the well-organized article, by Deborah A. Perlick, Frederick J. Sautter and Julia J. Becker-Cretu, et al., are/were affiliated with the VISN 2 South MIRECC at the James J. Peters Medical Center (Bronx, NY), the South Central MIRECC, the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, the Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center, and the Office of Patient Care Services.

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Recent Publications

  1. Abraham, T. H., Koenig, C. J., Zamora, K., Hill, C., Uddo, M., Kelly, P. A., Hamilton, M. F., Curran, G. M., Pyne, J. M., & Seal, K. H. (2017). Situating mental health work in place: Qualitative data from interviews with Veterans in Southeastern Louisiana and Northern California. Health & Place, 47, 63-70.
  2. Conti, E. C., Barrera, T., Amspoker, A. B., Wilson, N., Shrestha, S., Wagener, P., Armento, M., Evans-Hudnall, G., Cummings, J. P., Kunik, M. E., & Stanley, M. (2017). Predictors of outcomes for older adults participating in Calmer Life, a culturally tailored intervention for anxiety. Clinical Gerontologist, 40(3), 172-180.

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Pilot Study Research Program Applications Due October 1

VISN 16 researchers and researchers located in San Antonio or Dallas, Texas (VISN 17) who are interested in pilot funding for research that can be used to develop clinical policy or programs that improve access, quality and outcomes of mental health and substance use treatment services for rural and/or underserved Veterans are invited to submit an application to the SC MIRECC Pilot Study Research Program.

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Implementation, Design and Analysis Support Available for Affiliates

MIRECC Implementation, Design and Analysis Support (MIDAS) offers centralized design, methodologic and analytic support to VISN 16 investigators and investigators located in San Antonio or Dallas, Texas (VISN 17) who are seeking intramural or extramural funding or conducting pilot projects.

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About Us

The mission of the South Central MIRECC is to promote equity in engagement, access, and quality of mental health care for Veterans facing barriers to care, especially rural Veterans. The Communiqué is published monthly by the SC MIRECC Education Core. Contact us at VISN16SCMIRECCEducation@va.gov.