Stories and images from the HSR-funded PhotoVoice project, From War to Home: The Impact of Invisible Injuries (Invisible Injuries) will again be exhibited at the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s annual conference in Arlington, Virginia. This is the second time that the project has been exhibited at the Dole Foundation’s annual meeting.
PhotoVoice is a multimedia methodological research tool through which Veterans’ and their families’ personal stories can more directly impact healthcare policies and practices. Photovoice projects offer a unique, participatory approach to research that allows Veterans and their family caregivers the opportunity to be partners and co-leads in disseminating research findings by sharing their own stories and those of others in their communities. This collaboration has resulted in two traveling photo exhibits, a website, two self-published photobooks, and dozens of presentations and publications with Veterans and caregivers as co-presenters and co-authors.
Because the project brings together VA researchers, Veterans, and military caregivers, it supports one of VA’s key research priorities—Veteran engagement in research. This support and engagement can result in mutually beneficial, circular feedback such as that found in the experience of Veteran caregiver Sharon Urbina. As a caregiver for her husband, Veteran Carlos Urbina, Ms. Urbina became involved with the PhotoVoice project. After that involvement, PhotoVoice director J. Gala True, PhD, recommended Ms. Urbina for a Dole Foundation Fellowship, which she received in 2018. Ms. Urbina has since become a strong advocate for Veteran caregivers, and helped support the ongoing exhibition of Invisible Injuries at the Dole Foundation’s annual meeting.
The Invisible Injuries exhibition was created to be shared and as such, is a traveling exhibit. Interested Veteran-centric organizations—such as VA medical centers or Veteran Service Organizations—are encouraged to request to host the exhibition.
Founded by Senator Elizabeth Dole in 2012, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation is the preeminent organization empowering, supporting, and honoring our nation’s 5.5 million military caregivers—the spouses, parents, family members, and friends who care for America’s wounded, ill, or injured Veterans.
