The Veterans' Caucus (previously named the Vietnam Caucus, Est. 1990) was established to focus on the continued health effects of the Vietnam war and its impact on veterans and their families. Now, the Veteran's Caucus is proud to invite all veterans, active duty members of the military, their families, and any civilians affected war and Global Conflict. The Caucus also works diligently with APHA to help shape public policy in support of research and health care for veterans.
Abstract Submission
The Veterans Caucus invites abstracts that advance these objectives and encompass our mission. We are particularly interested in abstracts that advance the understanding of the continued health effects of war, including but not limited to the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the Iraq War and other global conflicts; we also invite abstracts that focus on said impact not just on veterans, but also active duty military personnel and civilians affected by war and conflict.
The Veterans Caucus invites abstract submissions that examine the health, well-being, and resilience of active duty service members, veterans, and their families across the lifespan. We welcome interdisciplinary, evidence-based, and policy-relevant work that advances public health knowledge, practice, and systems innovation.
Military-affiliated populations represent a diverse and evolving community whose health trajectories span pre-service, active duty, transition to civilian life, midlife, aging, and end-of-life phases. We seek submissions that reflect both the strengths and challenges within this continuum.
Force readiness and preventive health
Occupational and operational exposures
Injury prevention and musculoskeletal health
Sleep health and performance optimization
Behavioral health in operational settings
Suicide prevention and resilience training
Women in active service and reproductive health
Burn pits, PFAS, Agent Orange legacy effects
Environmental and occupational toxicology
Cardiometabolic disease across service phases
Long-term neurological sequelae
Employment and education transitions
Community–DoD–VA partnerships
Peer support models
Civic engagement and purpose after service
Military spouse and caregiver burden
Child and adolescent outcomes in military families
Intergenerational resilience and trauma
Family-centered public health models
Women service members and veterans
LGBTQ+ military and veteran health
Racial and ethnic disparities
Rural and frontier military families
Homelessness and housing instability among veterans
Health trajectories from recruitment through aging
Pre-service risk and protective factors
Transition from active duty to civilian life
Aging veterans and geriatric public health models
End-of-life care and dignity in military populations
PTSD and moral injury
Combat stress and reintegration challenges
Substance use and co-occurring disorders
Traumatic brain injury and neuropsychiatric outcomes
Family system impacts during and after service
Military–public health collaboration
VA and civilian health system integration
Disaster response and military populations
Surveillance and data systems
Legislative and policy impacts on service members and veterans
Chair: Jenevieve Peecher, MD/MPH, RN/BSN, FAWM
Co-Chair: TBD
Program Planner: Jenevieve Peecher, MD/MPH, RN/BSN, FAWM
Caucus Collaborative Representatives: Linda Williams
Immediate Past Chair: Arnold Schecter
Governing Council Representative: Glen Mims
Secretary: Linda Williams
Treasurer: Rebecca Mims
Jenevieve Peecher, MD/MPH, RN/BSN, FAWM
veterans.caucus.apha@gmail.com