Skip main navigation

Military Health System

Hurricane Milton & Hurricane Helene

Emergency procedures are in place in multiple states due to Hurricane Milton & Hurricane Helene. >>Learn More

From Patients to Students: How the Intrepid Spirit Center in Fort Belvoir is Transforming Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Treatments

Image of From Patients to Students: How the Intrepid Spirit Center in Fort Belvoir is Transforming Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Treatments. U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Christine Brady, director of the intrepid spirit center at Fort Belvoir, with poster presentation that highlighted the intrepid spirit university model at the 2024 AMSUS Annual Meeting. (Photo by Brianna Davis)

The National Intrepid Center of Excellence at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is the headquarters of the Defense Intrepid Network for Traumatic Brain Injury and Brain Health, which consists of 10 Intrepid Spirit Centers located at military bases throughout the U.S., in addition to two TBI clinics in Alaska and Germany. The centers are designed to treat the invisible wounds of war, such as traumatic brain injury and associated psychological health conditions by utilizing a holistic, patient-centered, interdisciplinary model of care

The network presented several posters at the 2024 Annual Meeting of AMSUS, the Society of Federal Health Professionals, held at the Gaylord National Resort, National Harbor, Maryland, Feb. 12-15, 2024.

One presentation highlighted at the AMSUS meeting is the Intrepid Spirit University Model established at the intrepid center at Fort Belvoir, Virginia—titled, “The Role of Connectedness within the Intrepid Spirit University Model. The center frames its interdisciplinary treatment as the Intrepid Spirit University, where patients are “students” and providers are “teachers” imparting knowledge to assist the student in making lifestyle changes to address the presenting ailments of patients.

“After years of careful observation and treatment of service members diagnosed with mild TBI and post-traumatic stress disorder, our team realized that the model of care must be as unique and individualized as the patients and incorporate an interdisciplinary methodology,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Christine Brady, director of the intrepid spirit center at Fort Belvoir. “Hence, the Intrepid Spirit University Model was born in March 2015. This patient care model resembles traditional universities where students take a series of classes, learn new skills through therapeutic interventions with our providers, and work toward completing a “degree.” It destigmatizes health care for patients with mild TBI and PTSD, as they are now considered students, not patients. This model of care reduces variation in the overall process while creating individualized patient care.”

Previously five domains, or pillars, comprised the student’s curriculum (i.e., treatment plan) in the University Model. These five pillars were sleep, nutrition, pain management, physical movement, and resiliency. A sixth pillar of connectedness was added in September 2023 to address the increasing awareness of the loneliness epidemic, one of U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy's priorities.

Several times a year, the center at Fort Belvoir hosts a Creative Arts Café as a forum for students to present their musical and/or artistic work to providers and peers. The Family First program, highlighting the family connection as part of a student’s education/treatment, provides an opportunity for spouses to attend appointments in support of the student and engage as a family in the creative arts.  

“We chose to present this model at AMSUS because we believe it to be an effective way to conceptualize a treatment plan that considers the full biopsychosocial formulation. Lack of connectedness is detrimental to overall health, and we want to be intentional in addressing it with our patients,” added Brady.

The intrepid spirit center at Fort Belvoir plans to conduct future research to evaluate the impact of social connectedness on patient outcomes and quality-of-life.

You also may be interested in...

Video
Sep 21, 2023

TBI and Low-Level Blast Exposure: What Medical Providers Need to Know

TBI and Low-Level Blast Exposure: What Medical Providers Need to Know

This educational video, produced by the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence, focuses on the effects of low-level blast and traumatic brain injury. Its purpose is to provide supplemental information on low-level blast to health care providers and beneficiaries.

Video
Sep 12, 2023

BACH Hosts TriStar Skyline CEO and CMO

BACH Hosts TriStar Skyline CEO and CMO

Blanchfield Army Community Hospital hosted Mark Miller, Chief Executive Officer, and Dr. Kevin Hamilton, Chief Medical Officer, both with TriStar Skyline Medical Center, and provided them with a tour of the facilities including the Intrepid Spirit Center in anticipation of the future partnership with them.

Article
Aug 16, 2023

Walter Reed’s NICoE Scientists to Present New TBI Battlefield Biomarkers Research During 2023 MHSRS

Dr. Ping-Hong Yeh all smiles at Walter Reed in preparation for presenting new biomarkers TBI research at 2023 MHSRS. Photo Credit: DOD Ricardo Reyesguevarra

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is pleased to announce that researchers from the National Intrepid Center of Excellence will present a groundbreaking study on diagnosing traumatic brain injuries during the 2023 Military Health System Research Symposium.

Fact Sheet
Jul 18, 2023

Low-Level Blast: Fact Sheet for Service Members

.PDF | 867.41 KB

Low-level blast is defined as blast generated from firing heavy weapon systems or explosives in combat or training environments. Exposure to low-level blast does not typically result in a clinically diagnosable concussion, also known as mild traumatic brain injury. Both providers and service members should be aware of the potential effects of low ...

Video
Jul 13, 2023

Acute Concussion Care Pathway Overview

What is the Acute Concussion Care Pathway thumbnail of educational video for providers.

The Acute Concussion Care Pathway standardizes acute concussion care in the Military Health System. This video is designed to educate medical providers on the ACC Pathway, improving their understanding and application of evidence-based clinical tools. This video covers aspects of the ACC Pathway in detail, providing explanations and guidance on using ...

Report
Jul 7, 2023

2022 Defense Intrepid Network Annual Report

.PDF | 11.07 MB

The NICoE 2022 Annual Report showcases the collective achievements and impact of the Defense Intrepid Network for TBI and Brain Health. This was a phenomenal year of growth in traumatic brain injury (TBI) clinical care, research, and education. In the report, you will learn about the expanded clinical offerings, advanced understanding of TBI through ...

Article
Apr 17, 2023

Concussion Protocols Aid Diagnosis, Treatment, and Recovery

Concussion Protocols Aid Diagnosis, Treatment, and Recovery

Whether on the sport field or the battlefield, the Defense Health Agency is the global leader in research on the effects of concussion—known as mild traumatic brain injury—in the military. Its research has fueled the development of protocols to help providers assess and treat concussion from initial injury to acute and post-acute medical settings, ...

Skip subpage navigation
Refine your search
Last Updated: February 16, 2024
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on X Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery