One Health and veterans' post-deployment health.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Occupational Health
• Veterans Health

Background:

• Over 3.3 million US service members deployed since 2001 face potential health complications from combat and environmental exposures.
• Deployment-related exposures include infectious/non-infectious agents and harmful substances in air, land, and water, leading to immediate or long-term effects.
• Veterans may experience psychosocial health challenges impacting concentration, emotional regulation, and social interactions post-deployment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for enhanced health professions education regarding veterans' deployment-related physical and psychosocial health risks.
• To propose specific curriculum topics, competencies, and didactic methods for clinical education and training.
• To emphasize the application of the One Health concept for improved veteran care.

Main Methods:

• Review of health risks associated with military deployments.
• Proposal of a curriculum framework for health professions education.
• Integration of the One Health concept into clinical practice and education.

Main Results:

• Identified significant physical and psychosocial health risks for deployed service members.
• Outlined a structured approach to incorporate veteran-specific health content into curricula.
• Highlighted the utility of the One Health framework for documenting exposures and improving care.

Conclusions:

• Health professions education must comprehensively address veterans' deployment-related health risks.
• The One Health concept provides a valuable framework for understanding and managing environmental exposures.
• Improved clinical practice and documentation are essential for supporting veterans' transition to civilian life.