Is Operation Mend unique in the services it provides?

“One of the truly extraordinary developments was that UCLA absolutely opened their arms and facilities to Operation Mend, embracing the effort of doing everything we can to help mend the physical and psychological injuries of post-9/11 warriors,” said Jo Sornborger, PsyD, executive director of Operation Mend. “Today, we are still the only veteran service organization that treats the physical injuries at no cost to the warrior.”

Since about 80% of veterans treated in the program come from outside California, Operation Mend finds programs and resources in their home states to provide ongoing help after their treatment at UCLA.

Origins of Operation Mend

It started with the vision of Los Angeles philanthropists and UCLA alumni Ron and Maddie Katz, who wanted to provide better post-injury care to veterans who were not receiving that care. They wanted to give back to UCLA by using their contacts and resources at the university.

Holistic approach to care

The initial focus of Operation Mend was to provide surgeries to wounded warriors, and once Dr. Sornborger joined in 2009, she made it a point to expand the program’s “whole-person” services for patients — while also addressing issues their families were facing.

Caring for families

Dr. Sornborger noticed the program treated veterans and also wanted to involve their loved ones, who are crucial to the veteran’s emotional support“So we started doing behavioral health screenings, asking a broad range of questions about depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and the overall impact of the injuries on the family member as well as on the warrior,” she said. Though not a surprise to Dr. Sornborger, the screenings showed that some family members were suffering mentally as much as the wounded veteran.“It turned out that the effects on some family members were so significant that they were meeting criteria for several mental health diagnoses,” she said.That led to an expanded effort to connect family members with mental health treatment centers in their communities, similar to the strategy for the wounded warriors themselves.

Support for caregivers

The program helps support caregivers with the needs of wounded warriors.

“Often the caregiver has been thrown into that role overnight, and it is very hard to be prepared for what is ahead, especially when the caregiver is experiencing post-traumatic stress symptoms as well,” Dr. Sornborger said.

By including caregivers as participants in the warriors’ treatment, the warriors don’t have to try to translate what they learned in a treatment program. “Instead, the caregiver receives the same skills and support as their warrior,” Dr. Sornborger said.

Changes over time

Dr. Sornborger noted fewer recent injuries among service members but more veterans in their 40s and 50s seeking treatment, especially for traumatic brain injuries. For these veterans, mental health support remains critical.Working with Operation Mend has allowed Dr. Sornborger to focus on veterans’ mental health needs. Operation Mend is part of Wounded Warrior Project’s Warrior Care Network, collaborating with Massachusetts General Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, and Emory University.“We always had this goal of building a very collaborative network, and that’s exactly what we are,” she said. “We collaborate on best practices, not only with our direct treatment, but also with case management and the referral system. We are an extremely collaborative network of academic medical centers providing the best treatment for our post-9/11 veterans.”

Issac’s deployments led to increasing isolation, anger, and physical pain. Following a suicide attempt, Jenna reached out to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP). With her support, Issac explored various therapies, but a pivotal moment came when they attended UCLA Health Operation Mend, part of WWP’s Warrior Care Network®. This experience marked a significant turnaround for both of them.

Jenna and Issac met while working at a golf course in Pennsylvania and quickly fell in love. After marrying, Jenna moved to San Diego to support Issac during his military training. Initially, Issac returned physically unharmed, but she noticed slight changes in his attitude. A year after his second deployment, Jenna recognized he was struggling with PTSD.

Their struggles culminated when Jenna discovered Issac with a gun to his head. This crisis underscored the profound impact of PTSD on their relationship. At the time, Jenna was balancing caregiving for Issac and their three young children while feeling isolated from other veteran families. Recognizing her need for support, she stepped back from work and sought help through the VA’s caregiver program, which eventually led her to WWP and UCLA Health Operation Mend.

The Warrior Care Network provided comprehensive outpatient treatment at renowned medical centers, including Operation Mend. “I was willing to do whatever it took to get my husband back,” Jenna shared. Issac engaged in one-on-one counseling and saw improvements in his mental health and energy levels. Equine therapy through Operation Mend played a significant role, helping the couple learn valuable communication skills.

Today, Jenna and Issac’s relationship has strengthened, positively impacting their children as well. Their journey reflects the challenges faced by military families and the potential for healing through love and community support.

About UCLA Health Operation Mend

Since 2007, UCLA Health Operation Mend has been providing advanced specialty surgical and medical consultation and treatment for injuries sustained in post-9/11 era military service. The original focus of Operation Mend was to engage UCLA’s world-class experts in plastic and reconstructive surgery to rebuild the faces of service members who had suffered highly complex facial trauma.

The program expanded to provide subspecialty surgical and medical consultation and specialty treatment in a variety of clinical areas, as well as comprehensive psychological health care for eligible post-9/11-era service members, veterans and their families. All care, care coordination, travel and lodging are provided at no cost to the veterans or service members and their caregivers. For those who have insurance, insurance will be utilized when applicable. The warrior is not responsible for co-payments, balance of cost, or authorization denials related to their care at UCLA.

Along with advanced medical specialty care, Operation Mend is distinguished by its focus on including the warriors’ family in care and providing comprehensive case management, coordination and social support that helps eliminate barriers to treatment.