This week, host Retired Command Sergeant Major Doug Wortham spotlights the incredible work of the Poly Trauma Center of Excellence at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. For veterans and service members facing complex, life-changing injuries—often involving traumatic brain injury (TBI) combined with other physical and emotional trauma—this center provides a full continuum of specialized care designed to optimize recovery and quality of life.
The episode dives deep into the Poly Trauma System of Care, which celebrated its 20th anniversary recently, with Minneapolis as one of the original five Centers of Excellence. Guests from the Minneapolis VA share insights on acute rehabilitation, transitional programs, outpatient services, recent facility renovations (including private rooms, consolidated therapy spaces, and enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration), family/caregiver support, and the innovative RENEW (Intensive Evaluation and Treatment Program) for active duty service members, including those in special operations.
Guests Include:
- Becky Vogsland – Rehabilitation Director, Minneapolis VA
- Amanda Momin – Acute Rehab Manager, Minneapolis VA (Marine Corps veteran)
- April Cerqua – Poly Trauma System of Care Coordinator, Minneapolis VA
- Leah Gause – Poly Trauma Residential Programs Director, Minneapolis VA
Key topics covered:
- Defining polytrauma and its impact on brain, body, and emotional health
- The continuum of care: acute rehab, transitional living, outpatient TBI/polytrauma services, and lifespan support
- Major renovations improving patient experience (private rooms, natural light, built-in therapy progress tracking, family lounges)
- The RENEW program: 5-week intensive for chronic/milder polytrauma issues, focusing on community integration, purpose, and return to duty or civilian life
- Family involvement, including Fisher House support, and interdisciplinary team approach (PT, OT, speech, psychology, nursing, and more)
- How to access care: referrals from community hospitals, primary care, or regional partners
Listeners hear inspiring stories of mission-driven care, long-term staff dedication (60+ combined years among guests), and real impact—helping veterans and service members reclaim their best lives after severe injuries.
For more on the Poly Trauma System of Care nationwide, visit polytrauma.va.gov. Learn about services at the Minneapolis VA here.
Or listen directly: Download MP3
Thank a veteran today—and honor those who continue to serve.
Produced in partnership with the Minnesota National Guard, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, and Beyond the Yellow Ribbon.
This week on Minnesota Military Radio, host Retired Command Sergeant Major Doug Wortham welcomes two knowledgeable guests who are deeply committed to supporting Minnesota’s veterans and their families. Through advocacy, community action, and innovative new programs, they share practical ways the state is honoring and assisting those who have served.
Barry Hendrickson, Adjutant Quartermaster and Legislative Chairman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Minnesota, shares updates on VFW advocacy, community donations (including a $100,000 gift to veterans homes and VA facilities), legislative priorities like property tax relief and the Major Richard Starr Act, membership efforts, and the VFW’s first female National Commander-in-Chief.
For more info: www.vfwmn.org (Minnesota) and www.VFW.org (national)
Raeann Murray, Veteran Health Navigator Supervisor and licensed social worker with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA), introduces the new Veteran Health Navigator Program launching in 2026. The program partners with healthcare systems statewide to close gaps in care and benefits through the “Ask the Question” initiative, care coordination, and connections to resources.
For more info: www.minnesotaveteran.org and www.linkvet.org
This week on Minnesota Military Radio, host Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Doug Wortham welcomes back Staff Sergeant Joe Hance, a recruiter with the Minnesota Army National Guard. In this anniversary revisit from his previous appearance, SSG Hance shares his full story—from enlisting as a high school junior through the split-option program, serving as an infantryman with multiple assignments and an overseas deployment, transitioning to full-time Active Guard Reserve (AGR) status, mentoring future officers in the University of Minnesota Army ROTC program, and now recruiting in his hometown area.
He reflects on his lifelong draw to military service (always Army, never other branches), the pivotal moment a recruiter contacted him after a strong ASVAB score, choosing the Guard to balance a civilian career goal in law enforcement with part-time military duty, the essential support from his family amid young children at home, and why the motto “We live here, we work here, we serve here” truly captures the Minnesota National Guard experience.
The conversation also dives into the recruiting process: basic qualifications, the ASVAB’s role in job placement, what to expect at MEPS (including the two-day physical and oath), current enlistment incentives and bonuses in select fields, education benefits like Minnesota tuition assistance and the GI Bill, and the kind of motivated, patriotic individuals the Guard is seeking—no need to be a perfect student, just ready to serve and grow.
Interested in exploring service with the Minnesota Army National Guard? Get started today or connect directly with a local recruiter in the Cottage Grove area at recruiting.minnesotaarmynationalguard.com/local-recruiters/cottage-grove.
Whether you’re considering enlisting, supporting a loved one, or simply interested in stories of service, this honest discussion highlights the opportunities, camaraderie, and community impact of the Minnesota National Guard.
Listen now and hear firsthand about building a future while serving your state and nation.
This week on Minnesota Military Radio, host Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Doug Wortham is joined by special co-host Tom Lyons and Minnesota National Guard chaplains:
- CH (LTC) Tim Usset (State Chaplain)
- CH (MAJ) Justin Lansdonne (full-time support chaplain and deputy division chaplain for the 34th Infantry Division)
- CH (CPT) Charles Kim (chaplain for the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade)
The guests share their personal paths into chaplaincy, how their civilian experiences—from civil engineering and youth ministry to healthcare chaplaincy and veteran-focused research—strengthen their ministry, and the essential spiritual, emotional, and family support they provide to soldiers, airmen, and loved ones amid the demands of service, moral injury, and life’s hardships.
The episode also honors the powerful legacy of the Four Chaplains of World War II, whose interfaith selfless sacrifice aboard the sinking USAT Dorchester in 1943—giving away their life jackets and standing together in prayer as the ship went down—continues to inspire unity, faith, and service in military chaplaincy today.
In this special segment of Minnesota Military Radio, host Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Doug Wortham welcomes the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon (BTYR) outreach team for a comprehensive 2025 year-in-review. The discussion covers the program’s statewide impact, key initiatives, the power of community and corporate volunteers, distinctions from the federal Yellow Ribbon program, and exciting goals for 2026.Guests:
- Stephanie Hurt – Community Outreach Coordinator
- Taunja Moe Forbes – Community Outreach Coordinator
- Taylor Kristoffe-Jones – Corporate Outreach Coordinator
Key Highlights from 2025:
- Helped approximately 76,000 service members, veterans, and families across Minnesota — equivalent to filling U.S. Bank Stadium!
- Statewide initiatives including Operation Kinship (themed care packages for military families left behind during deployments) and Hero Meals (Thanksgiving/Christmas support, especially vital during challenging times).
- Reboot success since 2022: Unified community and corporate sides, fostering stronger partnerships and resource sharing.
- No government funding/red tape — support comes from private donations, volunteers, and companies, enabling quick, flexible aid (e.g., coffee and muffins at Camp Ripley polar plunges, emergency assistance, job connections).
- New corporate partners joined, including Walser Automotive Group (first automotive group in the program, offering military discounts and potential repair support).
- Emphasis on volunteers as the “heartbeat” — patriots helping patriots, with opportunities for all ages and commitment levels.
Looking Ahead to 2026:
- Expanding to over 100 Beyond the Yellow Ribbon companies, including all Minnesota state colleges and universities.
- Growing volunteer numbers and statewide momentum through more combined initiatives.
- Continued focus on supporting all branches, families, and filling gaps for those in need — from rural wood delivery to metro job placement.
In this episode of Minnesota Military Radio, we explore two critical advancements in Veteran healthcare at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System: a major shift toward digital pharmacy services and a proactive approach to limb preservation.
Guests Include:
- Dr. Lisa Anderson – Chief of Pharmacy, Minneapolis VA
- Stephanie Walek – Pharmacy Program Manager, Minneapolis VA
- Dr. Wei Li – Chief of Vascular Surgery, Minneapolis VA
- Dawn Strief – Nurse Practitioner, Minneapolis VA
- Shanon Harper – Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Minneapolis VA
Part 1: The Move to Paperless Pharmacy
Chief of Pharmacy Dr. Lisa Anderson and Program Manager Stephanie Walek discuss the new transition to digital prescription information.
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What’s Changing: Starting in early 2026, the Minneapolis VA is replacing bulky paper inserts with QR codes on prescription labels.
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Why It Matters: This initiative reduces waste (saving over 34,000 sheets of paper annually) and provides Veterans with 24/7 access to instructional videos and medication guides via their smartphones.
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Veteran Choice: Paper copies remain available upon request for those who prefer them.
Part 2: Programs focused on limb preservation.
Dr. Wei Li, the new Chief of Vascular Surgery, introduces us to two Nurse Practitioners Dawn Strief and Shanon Harper who share information about life-changing initiatives that use tele-health and focus on limb preservation.
- PAVE: Prevention of Amputation in Veterans
- FIRM: Follow –up Initiative for the Recovery, Retention and Management of Patients
In this year-end legislative wrap-up, host Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Doug Wortham sits down with key leaders to reflect on major accomplishments for Minnesota veterans in 2025 and priorities moving into 2026.
The episode features insightful conversations with:
- Senator Aric Putnam (DFL-St. Cloud, Chair of the Veterans Subcommittee) – Discussing funding boosts for veterans homes, expanding Meals on Wheels for Greater Minnesota, addressing food insecurity, protecting veterans from predatory “claims sharks,” and future ideas like farm-to-veterans programs to support aging vets and local farmers.
- Representative Matt Bliss (R-Pennington, Veterans Committee member) – Highlighting the creation of a dedicated veterans omnibus bill process, increased focus on homelessness and suicide prevention (a top priority amid rising rates), family involvement in mental health support, and bipartisan collaboration to keep politics out of veterans’ issues.
- Governor Tim Walz – Praising the unanimous passage of veterans funding (including new homes, cemeteries, National Guard bonuses, and hunting/fishing license benefits), progress toward ending veteran homelessness, executive actions on food insecurity, and the importance of separating veterans issues from broader partisan debates.
Key 2025 Highlights Discussed:
- Historic funding for veterans homes to staff new facilities and reduce waitlists.
- Expanded efforts on food insecurity and home-delivered meals.
- Strong progress on veteran homelessness (nearing functional zero in most counties).
- Emphasis on suicide prevention, family support, and eliminating stigma around seeking help.
- Bipartisan approach: Veterans issues handled first, with no partisan bickering—resulting in real wins like retention bonuses keeping Minnesota competitive nationally.
Looking to 2026:
- Continued focus on suicide prevention, food programs, and claims protection.
- Potential supplemental funding to offset federal cuts (e.g., domiciliary care).
- Codifying successful initiatives into law for long-term stability.
- Gratitude to veterans, families, and caregivers—no one serves alone.
This episode showcases how Minnesota continues to lead in supporting those who served—through collaboration, empathy, and putting veterans first.
In this special Year in Review episode (recorded late 2025), retired Command Sgt. Maj. Doug Wortham sits down with the Minnesota National Guard’s command team:
- Major General Shawn Manke, Adjutant General
- Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Rost, Command Senior Enlisted Leader
They discuss leadership dynamics, 2025 accomplishments, domestic and international missions, and exciting plans for 2026.
Key Highlights from 2025
- Force growth and high readiness levels (nearly 13,000 Soldiers and Airmen strong)
- Domestic support: Wildfire response on the North Shore and cyber assistance in St. Paul
- International partnerships: Deepened ties with Croatia (29 years) and Norway (including the 52nd troop exchange)
Looking Ahead to 2026
- 53rd Norwegian Reciprocal Troop Exchange (NOREX) in February
- 30th anniversary celebrations with Croatia, including joint training
- Upcoming deployments and returns (e.g., 34th MP Company, 148th Fighter Wing)
- Modernization: New C-130J aircraft arriving for the 133rd Airlift Wing
- New facilities opening, including the Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum
The leaders emphasized trust, community connections (“We live here, we work here, we serve here”), and pride in the Guard’s motto: Always Ready, Always There
Interested in joining? As CSM Rost says: “This is a great time to be part of this team—we need leaders for the next generation.”
For more information or to explore service opportunities: MinnesotaNationalGuard.ng.mil
TOM LYONS, FOUNDER AND HOST
HOST DOUG WORTHAM
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