We are excited to launch our new Medical Patriot Project which will educate and empower our military, Veterans, and Defense communities with evidence-based resources to protect their health! We are committed to improving the quality of care for all our Veterans, including those seeking care in the private sector.
With proposed cuts to Veterans health and benefits, as well as the threat of privatization, our Patriotic solutions to protect the health of our Veterans and those in Defense communities are needed now more than ever! To recruit folks to our army of medical patriots, we will be doing education and outreach to public health and health professionals about the legacy of DoD contamination--highlighting health effects from exposures which may merit changes to the usual standard of care. We will also educate health professionals on how to write what are called nexus letters (essentially medical opinions) to assist Veterans in getting the benefits they are owed for health conditions that are likely related to toxic exposures from their service.
Medical Patriot Project
A Medical Patriot is someone committed to building a healthier future for our military, Veterans, and all those who make up the broader Department of Defense (DoD) communities. Medical Patriots demonstrate their allegiance to this country by protecting our unalienable rights of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” They exemplify their loyalty to our military, Veterans, and DoD communities through education and actions that improve the quality of healthcare and address social and environmental determinants of health—ever mindful of the legacy of
DoD contamination.
Who is a Medical Patriot?
Background
​Through our Medical Patriot Project we can ensure folks impacted by in-country DoD contamination are screened appropriately, get evidence-based care, and help Veterans to get the benefits they earned and are owed. Our medical team is ready to educate and assist physicians in understanding these DoD exposures so they can provide what are called nexus letters (essentially medical opinions) directly to Veterans. In so doing, they help our Vets avoid costly scams and third-party efforts by attorneys and others seeking excessive monetary gain for a service that can be accomplished between Veteran and physician.
Our team of Patriotic experts is ready to serve those who served and all our Defense communities! Our first investigation of the Former Fort Ord, U.S. Army in California has already earned national media attention from the Washington Post and USA Today based on extensive use of the active toxicants in Agent Orange to control poison oak in the field where troops trained.1,2
Initial Findings and Resources Available at:
1. Understanding the contamination
Our expert researchers will review and archive the DoD contamination for key contaminants with health consequences--working one base at a time. We will cut through government bureaucracy and put information directly into the hands of our Veterans and others impacted by DoD contamination.
2. Empowering Veterans with information on their exposures
Our leading scientists will assist in producing base-specific packets that Veterans can take to their care team and that they can submit with their benefits claims to raise awareness of the true nature of their exposures.
3. Educating and empowering health professionals
Our medical experts will compile a packet Veterans can give to their physicians to inform their care and educate them on how to write a detailed nexus in support of their benefits claim.
4. Engaging in outreach and education locally around the base and connecting to the broader impacted Defense communities and medical professionals
Our experts will bring together key stakeholders and cater educational solutions to best meet the needs of the community, including hosting events or creating further resource materials.
Steps to the Medical Patriot Project
Your Marching Orders
Requirements:
1. Demonstrate screening patients for a history of service and possible past exposures as part of a Defense community--considering environmental and social determinants of health
2. Complete a 1-hour module of Continuing Medical Education training (Coming in mid-2025)
3. Complete one nexus letter for review and critique
Recognition Benefits:
1. Certificate and promotional stickers for your office, and a white coat pin
2. Press release to local media, recognition on social media
3. Listing on our website and linked to social media so our Defense communities can search for your practice by location and know you got their 6.
Become a Medical Patriot
follow
US
Check out our 501(c)(4)
On Your Side Action
for the latest advocacy updates
sign up for updates
Sources:
1. Norman, Hannah. "The neglected U.S. victims of Agent Orange." Washington Post. April 30, 2024. Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/04/30/neglected-us-victims-agent-orange/
2. Norman, H and Kime, P. "Vets exposed to Agent Orange at US bases denied VA compensation." USA Today. Available at: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/04/26/us-agent-orange-exposure-not-covered-va/73451111007/