Veterans Gather to Talk PTSD at NYIT Health Forum

A trio of student-veterans from NYIT School of Health Professions discussed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at a forum on Nov. 11 at the Old Westbury campus.

The Veterans Day event also honored Sidney Simon, D.O., a World War II veteran and professor of clinical sciences at NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM). Simon, 91, served as a U.S. Army combat medic in Europe from 1944 to 1945 before being discharged. He received the Purple Heart awarded to those wounded or killed during service.

Andrew Kerner, president of NYITCOM's student chapter of the Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, opened the event, and NYIT Chief of Staff Peter Kinney, a retired U.S. Army infantry colonel, also made brief remarks. Student-veterans Eric Theriault, Lynesia Jeffries, and Artem Vasilenko participated in a panel discussion moderated by Alice Heron-Burke, NYIT senior director of counseling and wellness.

Public Perceptions and Meaningful Change

According to the Mayo Clinic, PTSD is "a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or seeing a terrifying event." More than three million cases in the United States are reported each year.

Sixty years ago, the public and even health professionals acknowledged the notion of "combat fatigue," but the severe emotional difficulties following military service were not often addressed.

"The vets came home with this problem and either had to work it out themselves or suffer the dire consequences," says Simon.

Although he recounts periods of not being able to sleep or avoiding combat-themed movies after discharge, Simon says he did not suffer some of the severe effects of wartime service that many of his fellow veterans faced.

"Today, we would not ignore a visual disability, a hearing disability, or a disability of locomotion," he adds. "PTSD can be as much of a disability as any of those."

Simon says he and other veterans feel grateful for those who recognize their time in the military.

"The mere fact that people thank us for our service is really the most important thing for me," says Simon. "The bottom line is to just recognize these individuals who have served their country, with or without injuries or conditions. Just thank them."

Raising Awareness of PTSD

The three health professions student-veterans on the panel want their fellow clinicians-in-training to know more about what some patients may be experiencing as they seek medical or healthcare. Vasilenko is a physician assistant studies student and Marine who served two tours in Iraq in 2003 and 2004. Theriault, a physical therapy student, and Jeffries, an occupational therapy student, are former Marines.

"When having a conversation with a combat veteran, clinicians should be ready to hear information that may be uncomfortable and alarming," says Vasilenko. "Post-traumatic stress disorder poses a significant risk for a patient. People with it can die because of it."

Some service members do not seek treatment because they fear others may consider them unreliable, weak, or unable to carry out their duties or other academic and job activities.

"Having PTSD is difficult, but when you have to worry about what people will think of you because of something that happened to you, it becomes harder," says Jeffries. "It's important to continue to raise awareness about PTSD and counteract the stigmas associated with it."