Tim McGraw and Faith Hill Lead Country United Effort to Benefit Military Medicine

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill Lead Country United Effort to Benefit Military Medicine

Symposium and gala to further medical innovations and quality of life research for America's battle-wounded, ill and injured warriors.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF), in partnership with The Tug McGraw Foundation (TMF) and Grammy Award-winning country music stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, will present "Country United: Advancing Medicine from the Frontlines to the Homefront." The presenting sponsor of the event is TriWest Healthcare Alliance.

Country United is a two-day event dedicated to supporting advances in medical care and quality of life for our nation's battle-wounded, ill and injured service members. It will help expedite innovations in military medical treatment and research -- which will also greatly benefit civilian medical care -- by bringing together leading experts, beginning with a day-long symposium. Military and civilian heroes will be recognized the following evening at an awards gala hosted by Emmy Award-winning NBC and HBO Sports broadcaster Bob Costas, with performances by Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and others.

The Partnership for Military Medicine Symposium will take place Friday, November 6, in Washington, DC. It will feature renowned military and civilian researchers and clinicians as well as policymakers engaging in panel discussions on: posttraumatic stress and traumatic brain injury; military/civilian efforts in humanitarian aid and disaster response; and joint efforts to combat global infectious diseases. Experts include:

-- Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases;
-- Dr. Robert Ursano, founding director of the Center for the Study of
Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services University of the Health
Sciences;
-- Dr. W. Craig Vanderwagen, former Assistant Secretary for Preparedness
and Response, Department of Health and Human Services;
-- Dr. James Kelly, director of the National Intrepid Center of
Excellence; and

-- Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC), member, House Armed Services Committee
and Congressional Brain Injury Task Force.

The symposium will encourage public/private collaborations to accelerate advances in care for wounded, ill and injured warriors and civilians. Faith Hill will be the luncheon keynote speaker, joined by Lieutenant Colonel Gregory Gadson. Gadson, who lost his legs to a roadside bomb in Baghdad, was credited by the New York Giants as the inspiration for their victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

The Country United Gala will take place Saturday, November 7. Hosted by Costas, it will include an awards dinner and silent and live auctions, culminating in performances by Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, the Warren Brothers and friends.

Dean Kamen, inventor of the "Segway," will present the "Visionary Award" at the gala. Kamen and his company, DEKA, have partnered with military researchers to create advanced new prosthetics, including a robotic arm. "I can personally attest to the tremendous value and effectiveness of military-civilian collaborations," Kamen said. "By working together, we can create incredible advances in medical technology that benefit not only our military men and women, but also civilians."

"While only one percent of the U.S. population volunteers to serve in our armed forces, it is the responsibility of the remaining 99 percent of us, as they protect and defend our freedom with their lives, to assure they receive the best possible care," said David J. McIntyre, Jr., president and CEO of TriWest Healthcare Alliance. "It is an honor for TriWest to serve our nation's military population and their families in the West, and our support of the Country United effort is a direct extension of our belief in the importance of ensuring that all who serve have access to the best care possible."

For more information, visit www.CountryUnited.org. Country United is also on Facebook and Twitter.

For more information on HJF, visit www.hjf.org; on TMF, visit www.tugmcgraw.org.

Source: Country United

CONTACT: Dava Guerin of Guerin Public Relations, Inc., +1-215-293-9020
or +1-215-262-0740, for Country United

Web Site: http://www.countryunited.org/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Media coverage is invited for the symposium and gala. Pool coverage will be provided for the gala. Credentials will be required. A credential form is available online. Interviews with all participants are available by request.

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