HSR&D Research Career Scientist Award

大约四分之一的退伍军人有物质使用或精神健康障碍。然而，其中大多数 退伍军人不接受这些问题的治疗。我的VA研究计划旨在开发创新 为了改善弱势群体获得和参与药物使用和精神卫生保健，测试是否 这些创新是有效的，并有助于其实施。这项工作涉及调查 有效性和实施潜力的移动的健康和同行为基础的干预退伍军人， 与无家可归和/或周期性卷入刑事司法系统作斗争。这样的研究至关重要 退伍军人事务部的使命，鉴于司法系统的参与和无家可归的不成比例地影响 退伍军人和增加风险的慢性健康问题和使用高成本的服务。 使用各种复杂的方法（例如，混合试验，定性分析），并在合作 与来自弗吉尼亚州内外机构的多学科团队以及弗吉尼亚州无家可归者组织的业务合作伙伴一起， 项目办公室，心理健康和自杀预防办公室，以及连接护理办公室，我的研究 贡献集中在：（1）改善涉及司法和 无家可归的老兵我之前和未来在这方面的研究测试的有效性和实施 旨在降低刑事再犯风险和利用急诊服务的干预措施的潜力 高需求的患者人群;（2）评估虚拟护理服务的退伍军人与物质使用， 心理健康障碍我之前和未来在这方面的研究研究的可扩展性和实现 移动的应用程序和支持视频的平板电脑，以增加退伍军人获得行为医疗保健的机会;（3） 开发、测试和实施同伴支持的移动的卫生干预措施。迄今为止，我的 这一领域的研究集中在为同行开发和测试协议，以支持患者使用 用于自我管理酒精使用和心理健康问题的移动的应用程序。我未来的研究将寻求 将这种护理模式提前实施到退伍军人行为健康服务的连续体中， 初级保健患者。 我已经成为这些研究领域的领导者，这一点可以从我的同行评审出版物《格兰特》（Grant）中得到证明。 资金，VA和NIH研究部门的邀请成员，领导成瘾的编辑职位， 心理健康杂志，以及非退伍军人事务部同事的支持信。如果我有幸得到一个 研究职业科学家奖从VA HSR&D，我将把我的全职精力投入到研究，指导， VA服务活动作为一个杰出的领导者，改善物质使用的获取和参与， 为弱势群体提供心理健康服务。

Approximately 1 in 4 Veterans has a substance use or mental health disorder. Yet, the majority of these Veterans do not receive treatment for these problems. My VA research program aims is to develop innovations to improve access and engagement in substance use and mental health care for vulnerable populations, test if these innovations are effective, and facilitate their implementation. This work involves investigating the effectiveness and implementation potential of mobile health and peer-based interventions for Veterans who struggle with homelessness and/or cyclical involvement in the criminal justice system. Such research is critical to the VA’s mission, given that justice system involvement and homelessness disproportionately affect Veterans and increase risk for chronic health problems and use of high-cost services. Using a variety of sophisticated methodologies (e.g., hybrid trials, qualitative analysis), and in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams from institutions in and outside VA and operational partners in VA’s Homeless Program Office, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, and Office of Connected Care, my research contributions focus on: (1) improving treatment engagement and outcomes for justice-involved and homeless Veterans. My prior and future research in this area tests the effectiveness and implementation potential of interventions that aim to reduce risk for criminal recidivism and acute care service utilization in this high-need patient population; (2) evaluating virtual care services for Veterans with substance use and mental health disorders. My prior and future research in this area studies the scalability and implementation of mobile applications and video-enabled tablets to increase Veterans’ access to behavioral healthcare; (3) developing, testing, and implementing peer-supported mobile health interventions. To date, my research in this area has focused on developing and testing protocols for peers to support patients’ use of mobile apps for self-management of alcohol use and mental health problems. My future research will seek to advance implementation of this model of care into the continuum of behavioral health services for Veteran primary care patients. I have become a leader in these areas of research, as demonstrated by my peer-reviewed publications, grant funding, invited memberships on study sections for VA and NIH, editorial positions for leading addiction and mental health journals, and letters of support from non-VA colleagues. If I am fortunate enough to receive a Research Career Scientist award from VA HSR&D, I will devote my full-time effort to research, mentoring, and VA service activities as a distinguished leader on improving access and engagement in substance use and mental health care for vulnerable populations.