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Hearings » Stopping Suicides: Mental Health Challenges Within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Opening Statements

• Hon. Bob Filner Chairman, and a Representative in Congress from the State of California
• Hon. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, a Representative in Congress from the State of South Dakota
• Hon. Harry E. Mitchell, a Representative in Congress from the State of Arizona
• Hon. Cliff Stearns, a Representative in Congress from the State of Florida

Witness Testimonies

• Panel 1

• Mike and Kim Bowman, Forreston, IL, (Parents of Specialist Tim Bowman, U.S. Army, Illinois National Guard, Bravo Troop,106th Calvary)



• Panel 2

• Penny Coleman, Rosendale, NY, Author, Flashback: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide, and the Lessons of War
• Ilona Meagher, Caledonia, IL, Author, Moving a Nation to Care: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and America's Returning Troops



• Panel 3

• Ira Katz, M.D., Ph.D., Deputy Chief Patient Care Services Officer for Mental Health, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Accompanied by:
• Robert Rosenheck, M.D, Director, Division of Mental Health Service and Outcomes Research, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Lawrence Adler, M.D., Director, Mental Illness Research Education Clinical Center, Veterans Integrated Services Network 19, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Frederick C. Blow, Ph.D., Director, Serious Mental Illness Treatment Research and Evaluation Center, Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Kara Zivin, Ph.D., Research Health Scientist, Health Services Research and Development, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs



• Panel 4

• Submissions for the Record 

• Michael Shepherd, M.D., Physician, Office of Healthcare Inspections, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Joseph L. Wilson, Deputy Director, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission, American Legion
• Joy J. Ilem, Assistant National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans
• Todd Bowers, Director of Government Relations, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
• National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
• Richard F. Weidman, Executive Director for Policy and Government Affairs, Vietnam Veterans of America

Hearing Transcript

Printed Hearing

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