STRONG STAR PTSD Consortium

10/21/2025

Lots of practical tips and advice for clinicians in this afternoon’s presentations at the San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference, from Stephanie LoSavio’s session on Socratic questioning, to Elna Yadin’s tips on overcoming hindrances in PTSD treatment, to the “Ask an Expert Clinician” panel. Thanks, all!

10/21/2025

The promise of using psychedelics such as M**A synergistically with psychological therapies for PTSD and the challenges of scientifically assessing cannabis use to help with chronic pain both were on the agenda at the San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference this morning. Compelling presentations by keynote Dr Barbara Rothbaum of Emory University and by Dr Don McGeary of UTHealth San Antonio.

10/21/2025

We had an outstanding poster session at the San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference on Monday evening, and this morning, the second day of the conference started off with the presentation of the Dr. Abby E. Seifert Memorial Student Poster Awards. The awards, which recognize excellence in student-led research efforts, also memorialize Dr. Seifert for the inimitable impact she made during her 11 years with STRONG STAR and her unrelenting support of students. Congratulations to this year’s award winners: Hannah Baker in the undergraduate student category and Remco van Ziderveld in the graduate student category. We were honored to have members of Dr. Seifert’s family with us to present the awards.

10/20/2025

Thank you, Bob Woodruff Foundation, for your sponsorship of the San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference and our shared mission of making lives better for military, veterans and their families.

10/20/2025

Su***de prevention closed out the discussion topics on Day 1 of the San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference. National expert Craig Bryan discussed the most effective approaches to treatment, including how incorporating Crisis Response Planning into evidence-based PTSD treatments can save lives. Then David Rosek took the audience through a practical demonstration of using CRP.

10/20/2025

The power of the team has been a theme running through the first day of this year’s San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference. Following the morning presentations that emphasized “doing this together” as a way to promote resilience and recovery, the early afternoon presentations by Roxana Delgado and Steffany Fredman encouraged care for the caregiver and incorporating family members and partners into treatment programs.

10/20/2025

Being our best on your worst day. This morning at the San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference, we learned how that motto holds true at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, including from the overall perspective as shared by BAMC Commander, COL Kevin Kelly, and on a more personal level in presentations that followed Benjamin Hall’s “Profiles in Resilience” address. Mr Hall’s BAMC trauma surgeon, Dr Joseph Alderete, Jr., spoke about incorporating psychological resilience into patient care as a force multiplier to beat the toughest odds. Then a panel that included Mr Hall and members of his BAMC care team discussed psychological resiliency from an interdisciplinary perspective.

10/20/2025

Such an inspiring start to the 10th Annual San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference today! “Profiles in Resilience” speaker and Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall enthralled the audience as he told the story of being struck by a bomb while covering the war in Ukraine, as well as the various factors that contributed to his psychological resilience through recovery from his traumatic injuries and in his life today. His talk was a great testament to the human spirit and what it can achieve.

10/03/2025

Remembering and honoring a great leader in the field, revered colleague, and friend of STRONG STAR, Walter Penk. As an original member of our Executive Steering Committee and long-time consultant, he was an invaluable mentor and partner in our efforts to improve care for military service members and veterans with the psychological wounds of war.

APA Division 18 mourns the loss of Dr. Walter E. Penk, a long-time mentor, colleague, friend, public servant and Division member. Dr. Penk helped shape public service psychology for decades, and will not be forgotten.

Walter Penk served as a Clinical and Research Psychologist at VA Medical Centers in Houston, Dallas, Boston, and Bedford, Massachusetts. He held clinical faculty appointments at medical schools: Southwestern, Tufts, Boston University, University of Massachusetts, Harvard, and Texas A&M. He specialized in psychosocial rehabilitation and PTSD, having published over 160 papers, and co-authored several books including Returning Wars' Wounded, Injured, and Ill and Treating PTSD Among Military Personnel.

Dr. Penk was a recipient of numerous awards, including the Alfred M. Wellner, PhD, Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Register of Health Service Psychologists; the Life Achievement Gold Medal for Practice in Psychology from the American Psychological Foundation; the Presidential Citation and the Harold M. Hildreth Distinguished Public Service Award from APA Division 18; and the Charles S. Gersoni Military Psychology Award from American Psychological Association’s Division 19.

In 2023, Dr. Penk was awarded the Spirit of Hope Award at the Pentagon, in recognition for his many years of service to Veterans through his work for the VA, including defining the protocols for identifying and treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

09/26/2025

San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference highlight: There is a lot of buzz about the use of psychedelics for PTSD treatment. What is the potential? Renowned and international expert Barbara Rothbaum, PhD, of Emory School of Medicine will discuss this in her keynote address on Day 2 of the conference. She will share the research and her own work examining the effects of M**A-assisted therapy for PTSD among military veterans and active duty service members.

You don't want to miss these and other compelling program topics. CE credits are available. Learn more and register today!

Conference dates: Oct. 20-21; Registration deadline Oct. 6; Hotel deadline for booking at the reduced conference rate: Sept. 26.

https://combatptsdconference.com/

09/25/2025

Do you enjoy attending the San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference each year? Join STRONG STAR and UT Health San Antonio in thanking the Bob Woodruff Foundation for its support of the conference as its Presenting Sponsor. Their partnership is vital to the success of this premier scientific meeting on military psychological health, which shares the latest advances in treating PTSD and related psychological wounds of war in military service members and veterans. Learn more about the Bob Woodruff Foundation at https://bobwoddrufffoundation.org. Learn more and register for the conference at https://combatptsdconference.com Don't delay! Conference registration deadline is Oct. 6; hotel deadline for the reduced conference room rate is Sept. 26.

09/22/2025

The time is now! Make your travel plans and register today for the 10th Annual San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference, Oct. 20-21, 2025. Conference registration deadline is Monday, Oct. 6, by 11:59 pm CDT. Hotel deadline for booking at the conference rate is Friday, Sept. 26, by 11:59 pm CDT.

Join us in Military City USA along the beautiful San Antonio River Walk for the premier scientific gathering on military psychological health. Learn about the latest scientific advances in treatment and practical applications to clinical care. Gain inspiration in your work. Network with your peers. Earn CE credits. Don't miss out!

Learn and register today at www.combatPTSDconference.com

Also see the comments to read more about our compelling speaker line-up.