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Director’s Message

Stephen J. Cozza, MD
Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics
Director, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Uniformed Services University

Dear Center Colleagues and Friends,

I am honored to welcome you to the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS).

As we continue to build upon our legacy as one of the nation’s oldest and most highly regarded academic organizations, CSTS’s vision is clear: to expand our international recognition as the Department of War's (DoW’s) leader in expert knowledge, education, and research on war, disasters, traumatic stress, suicide, and trauma-informed care.

Our sustained mission remains essential to the DoW and the nation: to advance scientific and academic knowledge, interventions, educational resources, and outreach to mitigate the impact of trauma from exposure to war, disasters, terrorism, and public health threats.

CSTS has been instrumental in defining and advancing the critical fields of military psychiatry and disaster psychiatry. Our position within the Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University (USU) ensures our work continues to bridge the needs of our service members, their families, and the broader nation. Areas of effort include:

  • Groundbreaking Research and Scholarly Activity: Center scientists, educators, and clinicians are dedicated to bringing scholarly, research-oriented problem-solving to the mental and behavioral health challenges of those exposed to trauma. We are engaged in scientific studies—such as those advancing the neuroscience and neurobiology of stress—dedicated to informing the next quarter-century of care. This work is crucial for developing effective interventions for military-unique health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), and suicide.
  • Readiness and Recovery: Our unique ability to apply principles developed in extreme military environments informs disaster behavioral health leadership for the nation. We provide consultation and resources for disaster responders and communities addressing natural disasters, community violence, and public health threats.
  • Families and Communities: We are deeply committed to the well-being of the entire military community. Our programs, like the Child and Family Program, serve as a vital voice in bringing attention and support to service members and their families affected by family separations (i.e., deployments), serious combat injuries, or military parental death.

Our work ensures we can rapidly move findings from bench to bedside and from war to disaster, furthering the ability of the DoD and the nation to respond to trauma and its effects on service members, units, families, and communities. We are proud to lead the nation in trauma-informed care.

Stephen J. Cozza, MD