Veterans consulting VA researchers
A table full of Veterans gathered together in the research wing of the Minneapolis VA Medical Center to talk about pain and opioids. This was the second time the team was together face to face since its inception.
"We supply information to researchers because we’re Veterans and we know what Veterans want,” said Laurie, one of 13 members of the national Pain/Opioid Consortium of Research (CORE) Veteran Engagement Panel. “I manage chronic pain daily, most of which is musculoskeletal. My goal is to give back to Veterans and being part of this program, I can do that,” Laurie said.
The panel, established in 2020 is a resource to connect Veterans with the VA pain/opioid research community and facilitate more Veteran-engaged research. This team of consultants was thoughtfully put together over the course of five months. Every panel member has lived experience relevant to chronic pain, prescribed opioid use for pain, and/or opioid use disorder and collectively members reflect the diverse and geographically dispersed Veteran population. They also represent service eras from the Vietnam War era to the present, and from all branches of service except Space Force.
Once a month panel members receive information about research projects to review. The Minneapolis VA Health Care System Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research team facilitates virtual meetings, during which they facilitate co-learning conversations between a different VA research team from across the country and the Veteran Engagement Panel to better center the experience of Veterans in the investigators’ studies. Sometimes the panel Veterans agree, sometimes they agree to disagree, but either way, real Veterans have a voice in the priority of research in the pain/opioid space.
The youngest member on the team is Jo from Minnesota. When asked why she was a panel member she said, “I suffer from chronic pain and want to help be a Veteran voice in VA research and care, especially for younger female Veterans. Being on the panel continues to give me insight into research that helps other Veterans.”
Kyle from Indiana served 26 years before retiring from service and is recovery. “I am very interested in holistic pain management strategies based on mindfulness and awareness as well as traditional medical and pharmaceutical approaches,” said Kyle. “I am very grateful to participate in the Veteran Engagement Panel because it gives me an opportunity to share experiences and offer unique perspectives to researchers.”
While the reasons for seeking membership in the panel from the start may vary, all of them have grown to appreciate that the work they are doing is helping their fellow Veterans.