Psychology alumna presents on importance of sleep
The University of TulsaMay 1, 2024
STRONG STAR investigator Kristi Pruiksma, PhD, an expert on the treatment of sleep disorders, was invited by her alma mater to speak on the importance of sleep and to address how best to deal with a variety of sleep problems. This article by the University of Tulsa, tells more about her visit.
$17 million goes to local researchers studying military PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, suicide
KSAT-12 NewsApril 30, 2024
Alan Peterson, PhD, psychiatry and behavioral sciences professor and director of the STRONG STAR national research consortium based at UT Health San Antonio, tells KSAT-12 TV about $17 million in new grant awards from the U.S. Department of Defense for eight research projects on PTSD, traumatic brain injury, suicide and other psychological conditions facing military personnel and veterans.

STRONG STAR Consortium secures $17 million in DOD research funding for brain injuries, PTSD and more
UT Health San AntonioApril 29, 2024
In a recent round of grant awards, the U.S. Department of Defense selected the STRONG STAR Consortium based at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) for a total of $17 million in funding to launch eight new research projects focused on traumatic brain injury and psychological health. The combined projects will enable the consortium to take a big step forward in its mission to advance the care of military personnel and veterans recovering from war-related trauma and the psychological wounds it inflicts.

Working from home is resulting in a condition called “Bed Rotting”
KENS5.comApril 11, 2024
Ever since the coronavirus pandemic working from home has become normalized. But working from home can also lead to a very bad habit called bed rotting. This new trend encourages people to stay in bed for passive activities, but that can spill over into work. In this news story by KENS-TV5, sleep experts including UT Health San Antonio faculty member and STRONG STAR investigator Kristi Pruiksma weigh in on why this can be bad for a person’s sleep and overall health.
Troops Still Aren’t Getting Enough Sleep, and the Defense Department Isn’t Taking Responsibility, Watchdog Says
Military.comMarch 28, 2024
A new report by the Government Accountability Office found that fatigue among service members is more the rule than the exception, with active-duty troops sleeping less than seven hours nightly twice as often as civilians, contributing to safety mishaps. Military.com speaks with sleep experts about the problem and what’s needed, including Vincent Mysliwiec, MD, a faculty member with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and research investigator with the STRONG STAR Consortium.

VERIFY | Can magnesium really help you sleep?
KENS-TV 5February 17, 2024
Sleep affects every aspect of our lives from the home, to work, school and random interactions with other people. Nearly 70 million Americans have some kind of sleep disorder. Insomnia is number one with 30 percent of adults experiencing it, at least short term. One out of every 10 people is said to suffer from chronic insomnia. In this segment of Verify, KENS-5 looks into a natural sleep aid that is all the rage — magnesium — and asks if it can really help. For the answer, they consult with Vincent Mysliwiec, MD, professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, an expert in sleep medicine and a collaborating investigator with the STRONG STAR Consortium.
Hearing ‘Thank you for your service’ makes most young veterans uncomfortable, poll says
Fort Worth Star-TelegramNovember 11, 2023
Leaders of a USAA-led initiative called “Face the Fight,” including STRONG STAR investigator Katy Dondanville, PhD, of UT Health San Antonio, encourage us to “go beyond small talk” and connect with veterans on a deeper level to show our appreciation and lend support.
Veterans face stigma over PTSD: ‘Something that we as a country need to overcome’
San Antonio ReportNovember 11, 2023
Following attendance of the San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference hosted by STRONG STAR and UT Health San Antonio, Shari Biediger reports on how the psychological wounds of war can linger long after military service, as well on advances that have been made in treatments and chances of recovery.

“Go Beyond Thanks:” New Survey Reveals We Should Do More Than Simply Thank Our Veterans for Their Service
AP News/PR NewswireNovember 9, 2023
As the nation prepares to observe Veterans Day this year, USAA hopes to challenge the nation to go beyond simple gratitude to create real, positive impacts in the veteran community. The news release includes comment by STRONG STAR investigator and UT Health San Antonio faculty member Katy Dondanville, PsyD.
A human condition: the PTSD diagnosis through the years
Texas Public RadioNovember 2, 2023
Post-traumatic stress disorder, once viewed with skepticism in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, has evolved into a widely accepted condition, shedding light on the traumas that define human experience. TPR’s Carson Frame spoke with Dr. Terence Keane, director of the National Center for PTSD-Behavioral Sciences Division, about that shift, beginning with the Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study. Their conversation was in advance of Dr. Keane’s keynote address at the 8th Annual San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference, presented by the STRONG STAR Consortium and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
