AURORA, Colo. — A new veteran services center on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical campus is opening applications to future patients.
Staff members of the Marcus Institute for Brain Health (MIBH) said the center has already received applications, with services planning to start in August 2017. The center is located inside the CU Anschutz Health and Wellness Center in Aurora.
The university recently received $38 million to build up the clinic and pay for treatment and services supporting military veteran patients. The center also plans to offer services to non-military civilians.
"People who have lingering concussion symptoms that simply haven't resolved them can come here no matter what else has been tried for this intensive care program," said Dr. James Kelly, Executive Director of MIBH.
U.S. Army Veteran Spencer Milo is the Director of Veteran Programs, Communications and Strategic Development for MIBH. Before his position at the university, he dealt with the impacts of multiple brain injuries after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan overseas.
"(I) tried to fight through some of those symptoms. The lack of sleep, the anger, the memory, the depression," Milo recounted.
Milo and Dr. Kelly describe these injuries as "invisible wounds," ones that can call for an other than honorable discharge status. It is estimated that 100,000 service members have been discharged under such circumstances.
"A lot of that had to do with behavior problems or ongoing symptoms from a concussion or post traumatic stress," said Dr. Kelly. "You want to make sure you get all of those fine details of diagnosis right and then start the treatments aimed at that particular person's combination of problems."
Staff members will provide a variety of therapies and services in the center. Click here to learn more about the new veteran services center on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical campus. And click here to learn how to apply.