November 7, 2019
By uclahealth 
“After 22 years of being around numerous explosions and jumping out of airplanes, it finally caught up to me,” reflects 51-year-old Tad Steckler, who was an Army engineer dealing with explosives and demolition. “Before Operation Mend, I was easily irritated, lacked an ability to focus, and couldn’t remember things. I knew what was happening to […]
Tags: featured, patient story, PTSD, TBI, traumatic brain injuries, Veterans Day
August 27, 2019
Keeping Families Close As They Heal
By uclahealth
This summer, UCLA Operation Mend took another step toward removing barriers to care for warriors by giving their children the opportunity to travel to Los Angeles together with their families. Children of patients participating in the intensive treatment program this past July were enrolled in the UCLA Recreation Summer Camp for three weeks, while their […]
Tags: featured, intensive treatment program, outpatient program, PTSD, TBI, UCLA Operation Mend, veterans, Warrior Care Network, Wounded Veterans, Wounded Warrior Project
February 1, 2019
By uclahealth
“We want to put an awareness out there about Operation Mend,” says Tad Steckler, United States Army Master Sergeant (retired) of Omaha, Nebraska. ”It can be hard to talk about personal things but it’s important for other wounded veterans and their families to know that they too can benefit from the program.” With a total […]
Tags: brain injury, intensive treatment program, Post traumatic stress, PRSD, TBI, UCLA Operation Mend, Warrior Care Network, WWP
January 31, 2019
Treating the invisible wounds of war
By uclahealth
“I left the Operation Mend program in a much better place mentally and spiritually. You really do feel better when you come out of it,” says U.S. Marine John Kob, who went through UCLA Operation Mend’s intensive outpatient treatment program for PTSD and TBI, offered in partnership with the Wounded Warrior Project. With a total […]
Tags: brain injury, intensive treatment program, PTSD, TBI, UCLA Operation Mend, veterans, Wounded Care Network, Wounded Warrior Project
November 8, 2017
Operation Mend patients to travel to New York City for nation’s largest Veterans Day parade
By Amy Albin 
Cities around the nation will hold Veterans Day parades on Nov. 11 to honor U.S. military veterans. The biggest parade of all will be in New York City, where more than 40,000 participants, cheered on by hundreds of thousands of spectators, are expected to march along a 1.3-mile route on Fifth Avenue. And, for the […]
Tags: intensive treatment program, physical rehabilitation, PTSD, TBI, UCLA Health Operation Mend, Veterans Day, Warrior Care Network, Wounded Veterans, Wounded Warrior Project
November 15, 2016
Coping with the hidden wounds of war
By Amy Albin
With more than 3 in 4 post 9-11 veterans reporting that they suffer from post-traumatic stress, many American military families are coping with this invisible wound of war as their loved ones’ transition back into civilian life. “PTSD and mild traumatic brain injury greatly impact the veteran’s family, friends and community too,” says Dr. Jo […]
Tags: Dr. Jo Sornborger, intensive therapy program, Operation Mend, Post traumatic stress, PTSD, TBI, traumatic brain injury, UCLA Operation Mend, veterans, Warrior Care Network
April 8, 2016
Suspect a brain injury? Follow these 6 tips for the best care
Severe bumps to the head can happen during sports practice, kids’ play dates and even household accidents. Knowing when to seek care for head injuries can mean the difference between a full recovery and a lifelong disability or death. Dr. Paul Vespa, director of UCLA Health’s neurocritical care program, offers six tips to ensure the […]
Tags: concussion, Dr. Paul Vespa, neurocritical care, neurology, rehabilitation, TBI, traumatic brain injury, UCLA Brain Injury Research Center, UCLA Steve Tisch BrainSPORT Program
