September 23, 2014

HSR&D Researcher, April Gerlock, Receives CDC's Linda Saltzman New Investigator Award

Part of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, HSR&D researcher April Gerlock, Ph.D., R.N., recently received the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Linda Saltzman New Investigator Award, which recognizes an outstanding investigator with 2-10 years of experience working in the field of domestic violence, violence against women, or dating violence.

Dr. Gerlock's research focuses on domestic and sexual violence in the military, as well as military-related PTSD. For example, she was principal investigator on an HSR&D study that sought to understand the differences between Veterans with PTSD who perpetrate intimate partner violence (IPV) and those who do not - and to describe those differences and variables that may facilitate accurate detection of IPV perpetration by VA providers.

This national CDC award is dedicated to the memory of Linda Saltzman, PhD, who dedicated her life to ending intimate partner violence through research. Dr. Saltzman worked at the CDC from 1984 until her death in 2005; during her tenure she became one of the CDC's top experts on violence – and one of the violence prevention movement's strongest allies.

Gerlock A, Grimesey J, and Sayre G. Military-related posttraumatic stress disorder and intimate relationship behaviors: A developing Dyadic Relationship Model. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. July 2014;40(3):344-356.

Gerlock A, Grimesey J, Pisciotta A, and Harel O. Documentation of screening for perpetration of intimate partner violence in male Veterans with PTSD. American Journal of Nursing November 2011;111(11):26-32.