4 Mass. medical schools pledge to train doctors in treating veterans

By Chelsea Conaboy, Globe Staff

More than 100 medical schools across the country, including four in Massachusetts, have pledged to invest resources in training future physicians to treat war veterans and their family members, ensuring that their education includes the latest information about diagnosing and treating combat-related issues such as traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder and psychological conditions. The commitment was made as part of Joining Forces, a program supporting families of veterans spearheaded by Michelle Obama and Jill Biden.

“Medical schools have long recognized the sacrifice and commitment of our military, veterans, and their families,” Dr. Darrell G. Kirch, president of the Association of American Medical Colleges, said in a press release. “The relationship between the Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and academic medicine dates back to the end of World War II and serves as a model for successful partnerships between public and private institutions. Our work with the White House on Joining Forces is a natural extension of our efforts in this area and renews our commitment to the wellness of our nation’s military.”

As part of the commitment, the association is collecting educational materials through its iCollaborative database, which already includes dozens of military-focused pamphlets on grief support, how people can talk to a loved one who they believe needs help, and guidance for primary care physicians screening for mental health issues, among other topics.

Boston University School of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Tufts University School of Medicine, and the University of Massachusetts Medical School have joined in the pledge. Dartmouth Medical School and Yale School of Medicine also were among the more than 100 schools that signed on.