Public Health Day highlights veteran care, well‑being

South Dakota State University’s College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions hosted its annual Public Health Day on April 7, focusing on the complex health challenges veterans face while also recognizing their resilience.

“Public health is the science of improving and protecting the health of communities and individuals,” said Jim Amell, Julie Stevens and Dale Evenson Endowed Associate Professor and coordinator of the Master of Public Health program. “These populations can be as small as a local neighborhood or as big as an entire county.”

The event featured an overview of veteran health issues by Amell and Christopher Robbins,  U.S. Army veteran and assistant professor of allied and population health, followed by a panel discussion with Jim Linn (U.S. Army), executive director of the Veterans Community Project; Russ Chavez (U.S. Army), director for veterans services and engagement at SDSU; Connie Stone (U.S. Army), coordinator for veterans services and engagement at SDSU; and Emily Van Klompenburg, associate professor of pharmacy practice at SDSU and a member of the South Dakota Army National Guard.

The featured speaker, Terry Hoffmann, associate chief of pharmacy at the Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, returned to SDSU as both an alumnus and a U.S. Army veteran to share his professional and personal perspective on veteran care.

There are an estimated 16 million to 18 million veterans in the United States, representing approximately 6% of the population. Nearly half of all veterans are 65 or older, and just over 65,000 veterans live in South Dakota.

As panelists discussed the public health challenges veterans face, the conversation expanded to include homelessness, access to care, military sexual trauma and the transition from active service to civilian life. Navigating a service-related disability affects 31% of veterans, and more than 30,000 veterans experience homelessness.

Mental health challenges received significant attention throughout the event. “Veterans are twice as likely to commit suicide as the general population,” Linn said. “When you examine the numbers, we’re down from 22 a day to 17 a day, which is better. But even one a day is still entirely too many.”

As many as 60% of veterans experience mental health challenges, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and substance use disorders. Speakers emphasized that effective public health responses must address these overlapping issues through coordinated prevention and treatment strategies.

While the health challenges veterans face are pervasive, resilience remains a defining characteristic of veteran communities. Speakers shared examples of how adaptability, resilience and social support help veterans navigate injuries, illness and life transitions, even as those same traits can make it more difficult for some to seek help.

“The first time I ever walked into the VA, I felt totally out of place, like I wasn’t deserving to be there, and I walked out,” Chavez said. “It can become very difficult to advocate for yourself because you are used to ‘embracing the suck.’”

Although the phrase may be familiar to many veterans, Public Health Day reinforced that veterans should not have to navigate health challenges alone. By promoting collaboration across systems and strengthening prevention and support efforts, public health professionals play a key role in ensuring military veterans receive the care they deserve.