STRONG STAR PTSD Consortium

07/20/2026

San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has asked the VA to consider Military City USA as a clinical site for future trials testing psychedelic treatments for veterans with PTSD. The city is well positioned for this research due in large part to the leadership of the STRONG STAR Consortium based at UT Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine. In this story by the San Antonio Report, Dr. Alan Peterson discusses STRONG STAR's innovative work, which includes a new study with M**A, and explains why research is needed to evaluate the true risks and benefits of psychedelics for PTSD and how best to incorporate them into evidence-based treatment. See the full story here:
https://sanantonioreport.org/mayor-gina-ortiz-jones-va-psychedelic-clinical-trials-san-antonio/

Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is working to bring VA-sponsored psychedelic clinical trials to San Antonio for military and veterans.

07/02/2026

Celebrations of July 4th and the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding are sure to feature lots of fireworks -- delightful to most but potentially stressful trauma reminders for those with PTSD, particularly war veterans. Should they be avoided in those cases? Dr. Alan Peterson of STRONG STAR and the UT Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine says no -- go to the show! Hear why in this interview with Jeremy Baker of KENS 5. https://www.kens5.com/video/news/health/experts-offer-tips-for-handling-fireworks-with-ptsd/273-c45feff8-396d-49aa-9db2-bb52450b4c04

One way many people get over their fear of fireworks is exposure therapy like watching displays from certain locations.

06/29/2026

STRONG STAR's mission is to develop and evaluate the most effective treatments for and related conditions for military, veterans and first responders. Today, much of that work focuses on combination therapies that enhance evidence-based psychotherapy with medications or medical devices. This story by Spectrum News talks about success our researchers at UT Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine showed in adding a form of brain stimulation called TMS to Prolonged Exposure therapy for hospitalized service members. The story also discusses work by Emory University researchers using TMS-only with civilians. See this compelling story here:

A treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate the brain has shown positive results for treating PTSD

06/29/2026

About 13 million Americans suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder, but how do you recognize it, and where can you go for help? STRONG STAR Director Dr. Alan Peterson of UT Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine answers these questions and more during a sit-down interview with FOX-SA/KABB-TV for PTSD Awareness Month. Catch the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovdR0GRBeqM

06/18/2026

Attending the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) Annual Meeting in San Antonio this year? Join STRONG STAR colleagues Casey Straud and Willie Hale for "Paper in a Day." It’s a great chance, especially for early research investigators, to build collaborative relationships in a highly productive and enjoyable way. The two papers led by Drs. Straud and Hale will focus on resiliency and moderators of trauma exposure and PTSD using data from a military Medical Deployment Resilience dataset. Learn more and apply at https://istss.org/2026-paper-in-a-day/
Willie Hale

06/18/2026

CALL FOR POSTERS for the 11th Annual San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference! We are now accepting abstracts for original research and systematic review poster presentations related to military psychological health. Submission deadline: Friday, August 14, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. CDT. Student poster award opportunity available. Find link for more information & the poster submission portal in the comments.

06/09/2026

Bexar County Commissioners issued a today naming June as , citing its impact on millions of Americans and particularly Bexar County, home to one of the nation's largest military & veteran communities and thousands of first responders who put themselves in harm's way in service to others. The proclamation also recognized UT Health San Antonio & the nationally acclaimed STRONG STAR Consortium it leads for its groundbreaking research, clinical care, and outreach efforts focused on improving the lives of those with posttraumatic stress disorder and related trauma conditions.

Alan Peterson, PhD, director of STRONG STAR and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences in the UT San Antonio Long School of Medicine, was on hand to accept the proclamation. He thanked the commissioners for recognizing the importance of PTSD, noted international research showing UT Health San Antonio as the world's most productive institution in this area of research, and announced a new STRONG STAR program to launch in July offering free clinical services to military, veterans, first responders, and civilians in the San Antonio area.

06/09/2026

can be life changing. Take the first step & reach out for help. For opportunities in South/Central Texas & nationwide with STRONG STAR, visit http://strongstar.org/treatment. The VA locator also can help you find a clinician near you.

06/08/2026

Mark your calendars for the 11th Annual San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference, October 29-30, 2026. You don't want to miss this premier scientific meeting, focused on the psychological needs of the warfighter.

The conference planning committee is putting together a great speaker line-up for this 2-day event. And this year we're bringing back an optional preconference CE workshop on October 28: Skills in Socratic Questioning.

Other dates to watch for: Call for posters June 18. Registration opens in July.

Learn more and sign up to receive important notices at www.combatPTSDconference.com

06/08/2026

What is PTSD? How do I know if I or a loved one has it? What treatments are available, and which one is right for me? The VA's National Center for PTSD offers information and toolkits that can help answer these questions and more. Check it out at https://www.ptsd.va.gov/apps/decisionaid/

For information on cutting-edge treatment opportunities available to military members and veterans through the STRONG STAR Consortium, find our link in the comments.

The PTSD Treatment Decision Aid is designed to help you learn about and compare different treatment options for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).