Immune resilience explains why some people, regardless of age, have impact immune systems and reduced inflammation. The blue-clad spheres are T-cells. The lower sphere is COVID-19.

Immune resilience is the capacity to maintain good immune function … and minimize inflammation while experiencing inflammatory stressors. —Weijing He, MD

SAN ANTONIO (PRWEB)
June 25, 2023

Researchers from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, working with collaborators in five countries, revealed that the capacity to resist or recover from infections and other sources of inflammatory stress — called “immune resilience” — differs widely among individuals. The researchers developed a unique set of metrics to quantify the level of immune resilience. This will aid in decisions for health care and help researchers understand differences in life span and health outcomes in persons of similar ages. These findings were published in Nature Communications.

The study was supported by a MERIT award and other grants from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health; awards from the U.S. Veterans Health Administration; and a Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Not age-dependent

Although age plays an important role in the body’s response to infectious and other inflammatory stressors, some persons preserve and/or restore optimal immune resilience regardless of age, noted first and senior author Sunil K. Ahuja, MD, professor at UT Health Science Center San Antonio with a specialty in infectious diseases. He is director of the Veterans Administration (VA) Center for Personalized Medicine, a national center within the South Texas Veterans Health Care System.

“Immune resilience is the capacity to maintain good immune function, called immunocompetence, and minimize inflammation while experiencing inflammatory stressors,” said Weijing He, MD, co-author and senior research scientist at the VA Center for Personalized Medicine and Foundation for Advancing Veterans’ Health Research. “We found that during aging and when experiencing inflammatory stress, some persons resist degradation of immune resilience.”

Results

The laboratory tests developed to assess levels of immune resilience were evaluated in nearly 50,000 persons of differing ages and types of challenges to their immune systems. This evaluation demonstrated that individuals with optimal levels of immune resilience were more likely to:

• 
  Live longer.
• Resist HIV and influenza infections.
• Resist AIDS.
• Resist recurrence of skin cancer after kidney transplant.
• Survive COVID-19 infection.
• Survive sepsis.

The researchers measured immune resilience in two ways:

• By measuring the balance between CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells, which are types of white blood cells. T-cells fight infections, but an imbalance in their levels occurs in many infectious and autoimmune diseases. The balance between CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells, divided into four distinct categories called immune health grades, was measured in varied infection cohorts and across the age spectrum.
• By measuring the expression levels of genes linked with immunocompetence and a greater chance of survival versus those linked with inflammation and a higher risk of death. The gene expression markers signifying high immunocompetence and low inflammation were identified with the immune health grade tracking optimal immune resilience.

“Many people think of inflammation alone when considering disease outcomes,” explained co-author Grace C. Lee, PharmD, PhD, research investigator at the VA Center for Personalized Medicine and assistant professor at The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy. “However, the concept of immune resilience captures levels of immunocompetence and inflammation together.”

‘A step forward’

The study introduces the novel concept of immune resilience, which looks at the balance between immunocompetence and inflammation as a critical contributor to health outcomes, regardless of age. “This is an advantage and a step forward because by looking beyond inflammation, we may uncover new prevention and treatment strategies for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, COVID-19, HIV/AIDS and cancers,” Lee said.

Framingham analysis

Muthu Saravanan Manoharan, MS, coauthor and senior research scientist at the VA Center for Personalized Medicine and UT Health Science Center San Antonio, noted that the study team divided participants from the Framingham Heart Study into four groups based on the gene expression markers of immune resilience. “Participants with optimal immune resilience, defined by gene expression markers signifying high immunocompetence and low inflammation, lived longer after controlling for the effects of age and sex,” Manoharan said. “Participants with metrics signifying low immunocompetence-high inflammation died sooner, whereas those with a combination of high immunocompetence-high inflammation, or low immunocompetence-low inflammation, had life spans that fell in between.”

Influenza

The study team also examined gene expression markers of immune resilience in a population of healthy college students and individuals in the community, all under age 50, who had blood drawn before the influenza season started. On the day of the first symptoms, most participants, including those with optimal immune resilience before the flu-like illness, had gene expression profiles indicating low immunocompetence and high inflammation, which is noted in persons with shorter life spans. Many people restored their initial level of immune resilience during recovery; however, even some of those who had optimal immune resilience before influenza infection failed to do so.

“Six months after their flu, some people continued to have gene expression signatures of poor immune health,” noted Nathan Harper, MS, coauthor and senior biostatistician at the VA Center for Personalized Medicine and Foundation for Advancing Veterans’ Health Research. “This is rather striking, because it means that inflammatory stressors like influenza can degrade a vulnerable person’s immune health long term.”

Sex workers

The study examined female sex workers from Kenya. During a long-term study, the immune health grades of those with unprotected sex decreased. “Most of the HIV acquisition occurred in women who had lower immune health grades,” said Lyle R. McKinnon, PhD, coauthor and associate professor in the Max Rady College of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, at the University of Manitoba, Canada. “With guidance and tools for safe sex practices, women with a lower frequency of unprotected sex over a 10-year time frame had restored optimal immune resilience, suggesting that removal of an immunological stressor could lead to the restoration of a healthier immune status.”

HIV-AIDS

In one of the cohorts, the authors observed a rare ability to maintain a high level of immunocompetence with a low level of inflammation despite chronic inflammatory stress, termed elite immune health status. “Interestingly, we found that some younger adults preserved optimal immune resilience markers despite HIV infection,” said Jason F. Okulicz, MD, U.S. Air Force infectious disease physician and senior member of the study team. “The preservation of these markers associated with resistance to developing AIDS and a low level of HIV in the blood. Remarkably, we found that after starting antiviral therapy early, some HIV-positive persons manifested markers of optimal immune resilience typically observed in younger adults without HIV infection.”

COVID-19

The association between immune resilience and the response to infection was noted during other infections. About 80% of individuals had poor immune health grades at presentation with acute COVID-19, and their immune grade predicted mortality, regardless of age. “Even among patients with serious community-acquired pneumonia and sepsis, those who had higher levels of gene expression markers of immune resilience at admission to the intensive care unit were more likely to survive,” noted coauthor Justin Meunier, BS, research scientist at the VA Center for Personalized Medicine.

Additional reading on this research:

Kidney transplant recipients

Immune resilience was also measured in kidney transplant recipients, who have a 100-fold excess risk of developing skin cancer. Each of the participants had developed this cancer once after transplant. “We explored the risk of getting a second cancer, dependent on immune health grades at the time each participant had the first cancer,” said Matthew J. Bottomley, MD, DPhil, academic clinical lecturer in the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford. “We found that, if someone had optimal immune resilience at the time of the first cancer, they resisted getting their second cancer.”

In collaboration with investigators from Sardinia, the authors examined blood immune cell profiles of nearly 4,000 otherwise healthy individuals. “We found that irrespective of age, persons with poor immune resilience had immune cell profiles reflecting increased immune activation,” noted coauthor Edoardo Fiorillo, PhD, of the Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research, National Council of Research, Lanusei, Italy. “Interestingly, we observed that nonhuman primates with poor immune resilience also manifested similar immune cell profiles.”

Females show greater immune resilience

One consistent finding throughout the populations studied was that age was not the single determinant factor in a person’s response to inflammatory stress. Some younger persons with poor immune resilience had the same signatures and immune health grades commonly seen in older persons. This finding suggests that the ability to restore and maintain immunocompetence at younger ages may be linked to life span. Another factor noted across the populations and species was that higher levels of optimal immune resilience were observed more often in females than males. Genetic studies in humans and evaluation of mice with a genetic basis to have lower immune resilience suggest that immune resilience may be calibrated by variations in genes. Notably, mice with lower immune resilience were most susceptible to severe Ebola infection.

Understanding risks

Public health ramifications of immune checkups could be significant, Ahuja said. He noted that assessment of immune health grades estimated by CD8+ and CD4+ counts is a simple way to monitor immune resilience. These assessments have utility for understanding who might be at greater risk for developing diseases that affect the immune system, how individuals are responding to treatment, and whether, as well as to what extent, they will recover.

Funding

This research was supported by the following funders: 1) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) through grant number R37AI046326 (MERIT award); 2) the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Center for Personalized Medicine through grant number IP1 CX000875-01A1 and a VA MERIT award; and 3) a Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The study with COVID-19 patients was supported by an inter-agency agreement (IAA) from the NIAID Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation (DAIT) to the VA. DAIT manages this IAA; the IAA number is AAI21051-001-00000.

Immune resilience despite inflammatory stress promotes longevity and favorable health outcomes including resistance to infection

Sunil K. Ahuja, MD; Muthu Saravanan Manoharan, MS; Grace C. Lee, PharmD, PhD; Lyle R. McKinnon, PhD; Justin A. Meunier, BS; Maristella Steri, PhD; Nathan Harper, MS; Edoardo Fiorillo, PhD; Alisha M. Smith, PhD; Marcos I. Restrepo, MD, MSc, PhD; Anne P. Branum, BS; Matthew J. Bottomley, MD, DPhil; Valeria Orrù, PhD; Fabio Jimenez, BS; Andrew Carrillo, BS; Lavanya Pandranki, MS; Caitlyn A. Winter, MS; Lauryn A. Winter, MS; Alvaro A. Gaitan, MD; Alvaro G. Moreira, MD; Elizabeth A. Walter, MD; Guido Silvestri, MD; Christopher L. King, MD, PhD; Yong-Tang Zheng, PhD; Hong-Yi Zheng, PhD; Joshua Kimani, MD, MPH; T. Blake Ball, PhD; Francis A. Plummer, MD; Keith R. Fowke, PhD; Paul N. Harden, MD; Kathryn J. Wood, PhD; Martin T. Ferris, PhD; Jennifer M. Lund, PhD; Mark T. Heise, PhD; Nigel Garrett, MBBS, PhD; Kristen R. Canady, MD, PhD; Salim S. Abdool Karim, MD, PhD; Susan J. Little, MD; Sara Gianella, MD; Davey M. Smith, MD, MAS; Scott Letendre, MD; Douglas D. Richman, MD; Francesco Cucca, MD, PhD; Hanh Trinh, MD; Sandra Sanchez-Reilly, MD; Joan M. Hecht, RN; Jose Cadena, MD; Antonio Anzueto, MD; Jacqueline A. Pugh, MD; South Texas Veterans Health Care System COVID-19 team; Brian K. Agan, MD; Robert Root-Bernstein, PhD; Robert A. Clark, MD; Jason F. Okulicz, MD; Weijing He, MD

First published: Nature Communications, June 13, 2023

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-38238-6

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio), is one of the country’s leading health science universities and is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. With missions of teaching, research, patient care and community engagement, its schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions and graduate biomedical sciences have graduated more than 42,200 alumni who are leading change, advancing their fields and renewing hope for patients and their families throughout South Texas and the world. To learn about the many ways “We make lives better®,” visit UTHealthSA.org.

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Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP

For more information about the lawsuit against Prolink Healthcare, LLC, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

SAN FRANCISCO (PRWEB)
June 23, 2023

The San Francisco employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a lawsuit against Prolink Healthcare, LLC alleging the company violated Labor Code § 2699, et seq. seeking penalties for DEFENDANT’s alleged violation of California Labor Code §§ 201-203, 204 et seq., 210, 218, 221, 226(a), 226.7, 227.3, 246 et seq., 510, 512, 558(a)(1)(2), 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 1198, and 2802. The lawsuit against Prolink Healthcare, LLC is currently pending in the San Francisco County Superior Court, Case No. CGC-23-606525. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here.

Additionally, Prolink Healthcare, LLC allegedly failed to reimburse employees for required business expenses. California Labor Code § 2802 expressly states that “an employer shall indemnify his or her employee for all necessary expenditures or losses incurred by the employee in direct consequence of the discharge of his or her duties…” During employment, Plaintiff and the AGGRIEVED EMPLOYEES were allegedly required to use their personal cellular phones as a result of and in furtherance of their job duties.

PAGA is a mechanism by which the State of California itself can enforce state labor laws through the employee suing under the PAGA who do so as the proxy or agent of the state’s labor law enforcement agencies. An action to recover civil penalties under PAGA is fundamentally a law enforcement action designed to protect the public and not to benefit private parties. The purpose of PAGA is not to recover damages or restitution, but to create a means of “deputizing” citizens as private attorneys general to enforce the Labor Code.

For more information about the lawsuit against Prolink Healthcare, LLC, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is a labor law firm with law offices located in San Diego County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Sacramento County, Santa Clara County, Orange County, and San Francisco County. The firm has a statewide practice of representing employees on a contingency basis for violations involving unpaid wages, overtime pay, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and other types of illegal workplace conduct.

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“I am honored to support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and join forces with outstanding young professionals like Channing Powell.”

PITTSBURGH (PRWEB)
June 23, 2023

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the world’s leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis which supports a broad range of research initiatives to tackle the disease from all angles, today announced a donation made by Pittsburgh Financial Group’s CEO Andrew Pravlik, along with his COO Gina McCafferty. Pravlik’s initial donation serves as a sponsorship for Channing Powell, an annual honoree of “Pittsburgh’s 50 Finest” young professionals, who is raising funds to support the Foundation’s mission of controlling and curing cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. It is caused by a mutation in the CFTR gene, which leads to the production of thick and sticky mucus in the body. This mucus clogs the airways and obstructs the pancreas, leading to difficulties in breathing and proper digestion. CF is a chronic and progressive disease that affects each individual differently, with symptoms ranging from persistent coughing and frequent lung infections to poor weight gain and nutritional deficiencies. The impact of CF extends beyond physical symptoms, as it requires lifelong management and can significantly impact the quality of life for those affected and their families.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is on a mission to cure cystic fibrosis and improve the lives of those affected by this devastating disease. Their work is centered around three core areas: research, care, and support. The Foundation is a global leader in funding innovative and groundbreaking cystic fibrosis research, investing hundreds of millions of dollars into research and drug development. Their efforts have led to significant advancements, resulting in longer and healthier lives for individuals with cystic fibrosis. Additionally, the Foundation provides expert care through a nationwide network of accredited care centers, ensuring that each person with CF receives personalized and tailored treatment. They also strive to support individuals and families by providing access to the necessary tools and resources for leading healthy lives. The impact of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s work is evident in the significant increase in life expectancy for those with CF over the past few decades. Today, people with cystic fibrosis are not only surviving but thriving, with many living into their 30s, 40s, and beyond. The Foundation’s support has been instrumental in the development of nearly every CF drug available, and they continue to advocate for access to quality care and resources for all individuals with CF.

Pravlik’s donation and support of Channing Powell’s fundraising efforts showcase his commitment to making a difference in the lives of those affected by CF. Pravlik stated,

“I am honored to support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and join forces with outstanding young professionals like Channing Powell. Together, we can make a significant impact on the lives of those affected by cystic fibrosis. By contributing to this important cause, we are helping to fund research, advance treatments, and provide support to individuals and families impacted by this challenging disease. It is our collective efforts that will bring us closer to a cure and improve the quality of life for those living with cystic fibrosis.”

Powell, an outstanding young professional and honoree of Pittsburgh’s 50 Finest, is passionate about raising awareness and funds to further the Foundation’s mission. With her personal goal of raising $10,000, Powell and her fellow honorees will be celebrated at Pittsburgh’s 50 Finest Finale Celebration, an elegant evening of dinner, refreshments, and entertainment, on Friday, September 29, 2023.

The event provides an opportunity for honorees to network, socialize, and raise awareness for cystic fibrosis. Through their involvement, these prominent, influential, and successful young professionals contribute to the local CF community by advocating for resources and support. Together, their efforts contribute to the Foundation’s mission of controlling and curing cystic fibrosis.

For more information please visit http://www.cff.org

About The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, established in 1955 by a group of determined parents, has made remarkable strides in combating cystic fibrosis (CF). Previously, children born with CF had a bleak prognosis, but through extensive research, drug development, and specialized care, the foundation has doubled the life expectancy of individuals with CF over the past 30 years. Today, people with CF are living longer, healthier lives and achieving milestones once thought impossible. The foundation’s investments in research have led to groundbreaking discoveries, resulting in the development of drugs that address the underlying causes of CF. Furthermore, the foundation provides expert care through accredited centers and advocates for access to essential resources, ensuring a brighter future for those with CF.

About Andrew Pravlik

Andrew Pravlik is a seasoned financial services professional with over 30 years of experience. Recently appointed as the CEO, President, and Managing Partner of Pittsburgh Financial Group, he has also taken charge of their western subsidiary, Seattle Financial Group. Under Pravlik’s leadership, Pittsburgh Financial Group has witnessed rapid growth in clients and assets.

With a specialization in retirement plans and 401k rollovers, Pravlik takes pride in receiving numerous referrals that allow him to serve multiple generations within the same families. He holds several securities licenses, including Series 7, 63, and 66, as well as the Securities Industry Essentials® (SIE®) Certification. Additionally, he is fully licensed in life insurance, annuities, fixed index annuities, and long-term care insurance, making him well-equipped to assist clients in achieving their financial goals.

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IPSWICH, Mass. (PRWEB)
June 23, 2023

EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) will be awarding $300,000 in grants to three libraries looking to further their sustainability goals. Russell County Public Library (RCPL), Kentucky; Purdue University Fort Wayne Helmke Library, Indiana; and Maplewood Memorial Library Foundation, New Jersey, will each receive an EBSCO Solar Grant to pay for the installation of a solar array. The grants offset the cost of installing solar panels and allow the libraries to reduce their electricity expenditures.

RCPL will be working to install solar panels to offset the library’s electrical demand by a minimum of 40 percent, helping to facilitate an investment in clean energy. Russell County Public Library Director Lindsey Westerfield says, “RCPL is committed to fostering sustainability within our community. With the help of the EBSCO Solar grant, we will be the first civic agency in Russell County to implement a solar energy system, creating an education point for students, government and business leaders and community members.”

Purdue University Fort Wayne, which submitted for the “Helmke Solar ‘Sustainable Future’ Project”, has recently implemented several sustainability projects, including a native plant garden, solar charging stations and a solar pilot project. Purdue University Fort Wayne Associate Vice Chancellor for Technology and CIO Mitch Davidson says, “Currently only 16 percent of electricity in Indiana is generated by wind and solar. Indiana is the second largest consumer of coal in the United States. Given that burning coal is a significant contributor to climate change, we would like to emphasize the importance of migrating to alternative energy sources such as solar and wind. With the assistance of this grant, we can demonstrate the positive impact of solar energy in Indiana and educate our students and community about the importance of doing so. This project will reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 25 tons annually, which is a very positive step forward, and it will power all the technology and lighting in Helmke Library as well as a portion of electricity consumed by other building services.”

The Maplewood Memorial Library Foundation is raising funds to help build a new library for the town, which will implement sustainable and healthy building practices to address community needs and requests. “Receiving the EBSCO Solar grant will help offset energy costs of what we are calling the ‘Library of the Future’. The Maplewood Library has been the heart of the community for more than 100 years and with this grant, we are looking to update our space into one that is sustainable, inspiring and accessible.”

For more information on EBSCO Solar, visit http://www.ebsco.com/solar.

About EBSCO Information Services

EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) is the preeminent provider of online research content and search technologies serving academic, school and public libraries; healthcare and medical institutions; corporations; and government agencies around the world. From research, acquisition management, subscription services and discovery to clinical decision support and patient care, learning, and research and development, EBSCO provides institutions with access to content and resources to serve the information and workflow needs of their users and organizations. For more information, visit the EBSCO website at: http://www.ebsco.com.

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Kathleen McEvoy

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Robert Brown (right), student in the Talent Attraction Program, stands with Melanie Hutcherson (left), his designated mentor and nurse manager at AHN Jefferson hospital

“The right thing to do, in order to get these students onto a career track, was to pay the tuition,” said Kelly Kassab, chief operating officer at AHN Jefferson and founder of the Talent Attraction Program.

PITTSBURGH (PRWEB)
June 23, 2023

Multimedia News Release:

Link to media reel: https://f.io/FPblsBwd

Passphrase: ahntap

Allegheny Health Network (AHN) announced today the expansion of its unique work-study initiative, the Talent Attraction Program (TAP), to each full-service hospital across the network’s western Pennsylvania footprint.

TAP is a first-of-its-kind work-study program in the region designed to significantly increase the number of diverse candidates for AHN employment opportunities across various allied health fields.

“Allied health” professionals are health roles within the hospital distinct from physicians and nurses, although the TAP initiative also includes registered nursing as a potential designated career path. Allied professionals typically include imaging technologists, ultrasound technicians, respiratory therapists, medical lab technicians, and others who support diagnostic, technical and therapeutic health care needs.

TAP’s pilot was officially launched in August 2022 at AHN Jefferson and, in close partnership with the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), has since enrolled more than 40 students across allied health career tracks.

CCAC tuition is covered for enrolled students, and the expanded program will accommodate up to 200 enrollees annually.

“As our enrollment numbers grew and our pilot achieved success, AHN leadership quickly recognized the potential of this program,” said Kelly Kassab, chief of operations at AHN Jefferson and founder of TAP. “We knew that a network-wide effort could bring in far more students and help to solve for the significant recruitment problems we face, in a mutually beneficial way.”

More than 85% of health care facilities and hospitals across the U.S. are facing shortages of allied health professionals, according to a 2022 report. TAP is designed to not only solve for recruitment and retention shortfalls, but also to remove barriers to transportation and cost, thanks to the program’s partnership with philanthropic supporters like the Highmark Foundation and the Jefferson Regional Foundation.

“When we were having conversations with prospective students, we found that tuition cost was their biggest barrier to getting onto a career track. As a result, they were landing in entry-level positions and staying in those positions without upward mobility,” Kassab said. “The right thing to do, in order to get these students onto a career track, was to pay the tuition.”

No matter where the TAP student is enrolled — CCAC, the AHN West Penn School of Nursing, or the AHN Citizen’s School of Nursing — the tuition is paid by AHN, and the student never sees a bill.

A cornerstone of TAP is its mentorship initiative which focuses on building a rapport between seasoned hospital employees and prospective students within the same field of study. Mentors support their proteges in all aspects, both professionally and personally, and hold weekly check-ins.

They also help to identify barriers students may have — such as food insecurity or housing instability — and work with AHN to remove them.

Robert Brown, of Pittsburgh’s North Side, is a former security guard at AHN Jefferson and is now a prospective student at the West Penn School of Nursing through the TAP initiative. In a recent interview, he discussed his growing relationship with his mentor, Melanie Hutcherson. Hutcherson is a nurse manager at AHN Jefferson.

“I think working on the same unit with my mentor, I feel that we have a greater connection” explained Brown. “We had similar interests in nursing, with a focus on behavioral health — how to help the Black community when it comes to mental health is important to both of us.”

In addition to registered nursing, career tracks that are popular among enrolled TAP students include anesthesia, medical lab and radiation technicians, and respiratory therapy. TAP is now being offered at AHN West Penn, AHN Forbes, AHN Grove City, AHN Allegheny Valley, AHN Jefferson, AHN Wexford, AHN Canonsburg, AHN Saint Vincent and AHN Allegheny General hospitals.

Those who want to learn more may contact TAP program director, Kaseem Bey at Kaseem.Bey@AHN.org or call 412-310-5148.

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About the Allegheny Health Network:

Allegheny Health Network (AHN.org) is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving the greater Western Pennsylvania region. The Network is composed of 14 hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, Health + Wellness Pavilions, multiple employed physician organizations, home- and community-based health services, a research institute, and a group purchasing organization. The Network provides patients with access to a complete spectrum of advanced medical services, including nationally recognized programs for primary and emergency care, trauma care, cardiovascular disease, organ transplantation, cancer care, orthopedic surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, women’s health, diabetes, autoimmune disease and more. AHN employs approximately 22,000 people, has more than 2,600 physicians on its medical staff and serves as a clinical campus for Drexel University College of Medicine and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Warriors Heart Announces New Virginia Warrior Healing Center for Military, Veterans and First Responders struggling with Addiction, PTSD and Mental Health Issues

We are beyond grateful to the Commonwealth of Virginia, Mr. Tom Crabbs Military Liaison to the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, along with the local community members and businesses, who have openly welcomed and supported us. – Josh Lannon, CEO/Founder, Warriors Heart

MILFORD, Va. (PRWEB)
June 23, 2023

Warriors Heart announces the purchase of a new property in Caroline County, Virginia, and is currently building a local team to be part of the solution to the national mental health crisis and support Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s “Right Help, Right Now” behavioral health care plan. As the #1 Warrior Healing Center for frontline protectors in the United States, Warriors Heart is a private and accredited treatment program that is exclusively for male and female Active Military, Veterans and First Responders struggling with substance abuse and PTSD (post-traumatic stress).

Warriors Heart’s unique peer-to-peer healing environment supports all six pillars of Virginia’s ”Right Help, Right Now” program “to address our behavioral health challenges, encompassing crisis care, Law Enforcement burden, substance use disorder support, behavioral health workforce and service delivery innovation.”

CEO/Founder Josh Lannon is currently on-site at Warriors Heart Virginia with a pre-launch team, who are in the process of hiring 30+ new employees (and will ramp up to 60), as one of the fastest growing businesses in the area. The new property is approximately 1.5 hours south of Washington, D.C., and 45 minutes north of Richmond, Virginia. The team is preparing for a soft opening on Patriots Day, September 11, 2023.

CEO/Founder Lannon explains, “We are beyond grateful to the Commonwealth of Virginia, Mr. Tom Crabbs Military Liaison to the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, along with the local community members and businesses, who have openly welcomed and supported us. From 9/11 to a 911 phone call, we take care of those who take care of us. Our focus is to serve adult men and women Veterans, Active Duty and First Responders.”

CEO Lannon adds, “Warriors Heart is currently hiring doctors, nurses, licensed clinicians and therapists, operations employees, chefs, housekeeping and support staff, for our 60-bed inpatient facility. All positions will contribute to exclusive treatment of our frontline protectors struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring psychological disorders, with special attention to post traumatic stress, unresolved grief/loss, and moral injury. Together, we will bring our warriors home.”

With 20+ years of experience building behavioral healthcare facilities, the three Warriors Heart Founders (CEO/Founder Josh Lannon, Former Law Enforcement Officer Lisa Lannon and Former Delta Operator Tom Spooner) officially started Warriors Heart in 2016, and over 2,500 Warriors have gone through their program.

Warriors Heart provides a full continuum of care from; Detox, Residential Treatment (inpatient), Day treatment, Outpatient, Sober Living, MeRT (brain treatment) and Aftercare.

This new Virginia healing campus will offer Warriors a secured environment with peers without the stigma or shame of asking for help. Josh Lannon emphasizes, “Our second location was designed to feel like ‘the opposite of a hospital’. We are not your average treatment center.”

Warriors Heart provides an innovative solution for men and women, and works closely as a community care provider with the Veterans Affairs.

And the behavioral health statistics support an urgent need for this second Warriors Heart location:

• “More than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (57.8 million in 2021)” (Source: National Institute of Mental Health).
• “In 2020, approximately 5.2 million Veterans experienced a behavioral health condition… Additionally, more than 90 percent of those experiencing a substance use disorder did not receive treatment.” (Source: SAMHSA, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services)
• “More than 80 percent of first responders experience traumatic events on the job”, often resulting in PTSD (Source: Institutes of Health).
• “Roughly 1 in 3 first responders develop PTSD” (Source: SAMHSA).
• “At some point in their life, 7 out of every 100 Veterans (or 7%) will have PTSD” (Source: Veteran Affairs)

Warriors Heart Co-Founder Lisa Lannon adds; “One way that people who are suffering from PTSD cope is through substances such as alcohol or drugs. It helps numb the emotional pain of the trauma. Our program treats the substance abuse and the PTSD at the same time because it can create better coping mechanisms and a healthier warrior.”

MEDIA CONTACT

Liz Kelly, 310-987-7207

ABOUT WARRIORS HEART (Bandera, Texas near San Antonio & Milford, Virginia) is the first and only private and accredited treatment program in the U.S. exclusively for “warriors” (active duty military, veterans, first responders and EMTs/paramedics) faced with the self-medicating struggles of alcohol addiction, prescription and drug addiction, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), mild TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and other co-occurring issues in a private, 100-bed facility on a 543-acre ranch in Bandera, Texas. Along with a minimum 42-day peer-to-peer residential treatment program, Warriors Heart offers a full continuum of care. Warriors are given the option of Detox, Residential Treatment (inpatient), Day treatment, Outpatient (IOP), Sober Living, MeRT (brain treatment) and Aftercare.

Warriors Heart’s work has been featured on the TODAY Show, CBS Health Watch, A&E Intervention, KENS 5 CBS San Antonio, National Defense Radio Show and in TIME, Forbes, The Chicago Tribune, Addiction Pro magazine, Stars and Stripes, and many more. There is a 24-hour Warriors Heart hotline (844-448-2567) answered by warriors. https://warriorsheart.com

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