"From War to Home: Through the Veteran’s Lens"

Newswise — For the unique photography exhibit "From War to Home: Through the Veteran's Lens," 40 veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan were given cameras and the opportunity to tell their stories in words and images. The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing is hosting “From War to Home,” an exploration of the impact of military service, deployment, and homecoming, from Monday, February 11, through Thursday, March 28.

On Thursday, February 14, from 11:30 am to 1 pm, Penn Nursing will hold a panel discussion with veterans whose stories and photos are featured in the exhibit. The exhibit and panel discussion take place at Penn’s Claire M. Fagin Hall, 418 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia. Both are free and open to the public. “From War to Home,” funded by the Veterans Administration, provides a window into the impact of military service on health and the stress of making the transition back to civilian life. The narratives also chronicle how veterans move forward with their education and professions, and provide support and strength to each other. One of the goals of the exhibit is to improve healthcare and access to resources for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

As part of Michelle Obama’s “Joining Forces” initiative, the First Lady visited Penn Nursing in April 2012 to announce a major initiative by more than 150 of America’s leading nursing organizations and more than 450 U.S. nursing schools to ensure the nation’s nurses are prepared to help meet the unique health needs of service members, veterans, and their families.

Hosting “From War to Home” reflects Penn Nursing’s commitment to educating current and future nurses on how to recognize and care for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other combat-related issues The opening coincides with the National Salute to Veteran Patients Week, organized by the VA Voluntary Service to recognize the more than 98,000 veterans who are cared for every day in VA facilities across the U.S. The exhibit was curated by Gala True and designed by David Comberg.

The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing is one of the premier research institutions in nursing, producing new knowledge in geriatrics, pediatrics, oncology, quality-of-life choices, and other areas. Researchers here consistently receive more research funding from the National Institutes of Health than any other private nursing school, and many master’s programs are ranked first in the country.