In this episode you are introduced to the hosts of the Vets First Podcast, Levi Sowers and Brandon Rea. They discuss the origins of the podcast and their goals surrounding it. You will get to know the hosts as they discuss their backgrounds and what brought them to this point in time. You will also hear about the research they work on and its relevance to Veterans.
Along the way in their work, Levi and Brandon noticed a disconnect between Veterans and research. Many Veterans did not know research was being done at the VA at all. Additionally, a major concern of Veterans was not being earnestly listened to. As researchers wanting to give back, they felt a need to convey research focus and findings to Veterans in an easily understood manner and well as provide a platform for Veterans to talk about their experiences. We’d like to thank the Iowa City VA research foundation for funding this endeavor and giving us a chance to build bridges in understanding.
Levi grew up in rural central Iowa near a town called Perry. He went to the University of Iowa where he graduated in 2012 with his PhD in molecular and cellular biology. In 2014 he joined the VA Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss and Dr. Andrew Russo’s laboratory at The University of Iowa where he now studies traumatic brain injury induced headache and migraine. Levi’s work aims to identify brain regions that are important in the development of post-traumatic headache and photophobia (light sensitivity) in Veterans. A great profile of Dr. Sowers’ research interests can be found here.
Brandon Rea grew up in a small rural town called Bernard, Iowa. He went to the University of Iowa where he graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He is now a researcher in Dr. Russo and Levi’s lab where he works closely with Levi on multiple migraine-related projects. Brandon’s research expertise focuses on pain-related behaviors in migraine, particularly facial grimace. Brandon and Levi were recently co-first and senior authors, respectively, of a paper published on these findings in the publication PAIN.
Louis Kolling: From the Army to Science, How an Army Veteran found a career in science
A Discussion with Neil Andrews From the Migraine Science Collaborative
Season 3 Episode 8: Understanding diabetes and vision loss: A walkthrough with Dr. Randy Kardon
Season 3 episode 4: Resilience and growth through traumatic vision loss: Tim Hornick
Season 3 Episode 2: Guiding the way to meaningful research for Veterans: Dr. Lina Kubli
Season 3 Episode 12: Building bridges in international veteran vision research: Dr. Renata Gomes and Bravo Victor
Season 3 Episode 3: Investigating visual disfunction in blast traumatic brain injury: Dr. Steven Fliesler
Season 3 episode 5: Providing support and community with sight loss: Dr. Laura Peters
Season 3 episode 10: A look into the optic nerve and vision loss: Dr. Oliver Gramlich
Season 3 Episode 11: Advocating for Veterans and families with sight loss: Dr. Thomas Zampieri and the Blinded Veterans Association
Season 3 episode 9: Navigating life with glaucoma related vision loss: Liz Holmes
Season 3 Episode 7: Life and independence after diabetic vision loss: Loretta Phillips
Season 3 Episode 6: Connecting sight loss, TBI, the importance of building a care network: Dr. Eric Singman
Season 3 Episode 1: Introduction to season 3
Season 2 Bonus Episode – First-hand experience in the trenches of Covid-19: Dr. Alejandro Pezzulo
Season 2 Episode 7 – Perseverance through care and routine: Dr. Carolyn Turvey and Dr. Anne Sadler discuss research on depression and suicide risk with our Veterans
Season 2 Episode 2 – Not broken, just doing things differently: Director of Disability in Education for the Student Veterans of America, Dan Standage
Season 2 Episode 5 – Learning about drug use disorders from origin to treatment: Dr. Anthony Miller and Dr. John Wemmie
Season 2 Episode 1 – Kicking off Season 2 of the Vets First Podcast
Season 2 Episode 3 – Aiding vision-impaired Veterans through experience: Iowa City VA VIST Coordinator Keith Queen
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
City Manager Unfiltered
Potencial Americano
The ASIC Podcast
The Chris Plante Show
Red Eye Radio