AHW Director Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld Discusses Military Service on Wisconsin Veterans Forward Podcast

March 12, 2021, Posted by AHW Endowment

AHW Director Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH spoke with Adam Howarth for the Wisconsin Veterans Forward podcast, produced by the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce, about his service in the military, his history of advocacy for the LGTBQ community, and AHW’s investments in supporting veterans’ health.

Dr. Ehrenfeld is a combat veteran and former U.S. Navy Commander who deployed to Afghanistan during both Operation Enduring Freedom and Resolute Support Mission where he cared for servicemembers wounded in combat.

While serving, Dr. Ehrenfeld asked then Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter about his stance on transgender individuals serving in the military during a town hall. The response kicked off a series of events that resulted in a lifting of the ban on transgender troops serving in the military.

AHW’s has made significant investments into improving veterans’ health, including $2 million toward PTSD, spinal cord injuries, and community initiatives to improve behavioral health support for veterans. AHW funds several ongoing veteran-focused projects, including a partnership between Mental Health America of Wisconsin and the Medical College of Wisconsin Comprehensive Injury Center to prevent veteran suicide. The endowment also funds a collaboration between the Center for Veterans Issues and the Medical College of Wisconsin Family and Community Medicine to tackle issues in Milwaukee County’s criminal justice system to create treatment plans to reduce drug and alcohol use among veterans.

Listen to the full podcast:

Part 1

Part 2