State of the California Veteran

ANA\C is bringing together a panel of experts to discuss the barriers to access to care for veterans in California. California is home to over 1.8 million former service members, one of the largest veteran populations in the United States. As nurses, it is important to understand the services provided to veterans so we can improve policies that increase access to care. During this panel discussion, you will learn the following objectives:

Objectives: 

1. Understand the demographic of the California Veteran.

2. Identify the state and federal services available for Veterans.

3. Understand the role of community resources in the care of the Veteran.

4. Recognize the role of nursing in Veteran's care.

Opening speaker: 

Dr Liz Dietz, EdD, RN, CS-NP, CSN, FAAN

NHQ:DCS - Disaster Health Services - Virtual Family Assistance Center

American Red Cross: Advisor/Mentor,  Service to Armed Forces

Disability Integration Regional Lead - NCCR - Red Cross

Disaster Health Services Manager

ESGR - Area 2 Chairperson

Professor Emerita - San Jose State University

Panelists: 

Dr. Ali R. Tayyeb, PhD, RN, NPD-BC, PHN (Host)

Dr. Tayyeb (he/him/his) is a United States Navy Veteran, Registered Nurse, Educator, artist, and creator, and host of the RN-Mentor podcast. Dr. Tayyeb, is currently an assistant professor at California State University, Los Angeles. Dr. Tayyeb’s work and research concentrates around improving access to care and benefits for veterans and advancing social networks to connect and advance nursing issues while facilitating nursing discourse centered around the theory of social contracts.

Carl A. Castro, Ph.D.

Dr. Carl Castro is currently a Professor and Director of the Military and Veteran Programs at the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at the University of Southern California.  Before joining the University of Southern California, Professor Castro served in the U.S. Army for over 30 years, beginning his career as an enlisted infantryman and retiring at the rank of colonel.  Dr. Castro has chaired numerous NATO and international research groups and he is currently Co-Chair of a NATO group exploring military and veteran violent radicalization.

Amy Fairweather, J.D.

Ms. Fairweather is the Director of Policy at Swords to Plowshares - a community-based not-for-profit conducting public policy research regarding veterans’ health, access to benefits, and socioeconomic well-being. She has worked in the field of public health policy, in particular, with and for trauma survivors, since 1999. Ms. Fairweather oversees Swords to Plowshares Combat to Community™ education, technical assistance, and re-granting programs. Amy Fairweather received her undergraduate degree from Mills College and her Juris Doctor from the Hastings College of the Law. She is a member of the State Bar of California.

Dr. Paul J. Ortiz, DNP, RN, FNP-C

Dr. Ortiz currently serves as Co-Director for the VA Nursing Academic Partnership (VANAP) pre-licensure registered nursing program, Nurse Practitioner for the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, and Walk in Clinic Lead for One Community Health Sacramento. His directorship at VANAP supports a collaborative effort between VA facilities and the nursing schools to provide students with a Veteran-focused clinical experience.