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VA » Health Care » MIRECC / CoE » VISN 16 MIRECC » Newsletter | Spring 2026 Article 7 | South Central MIRECC

MIRECC / CoE

Newsletter | Spring 2026 Article 7 | South Central MIRECC

Highlights from Our Anchor Sites

Our affiliates in Houston, Little Rock, and New Orleans work hard to promote mental health education, research, and treatment locally and nationally. Here are some highlights of their accomplishments over the past three months.

Houston

Dr. Hilary Touchett

Dr. Hilary Touchett Received ASCIP Award

Congratulations to Dr. Touchett for receiving the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals (ASCIP) Academy Nursing Section 2026 Audrey Nelson Lectureship Award. This prestigious recognition reflects her contributions to the field and for her leadership in nursing science in spinal cord injury research, including the integration of technology into interventions to improve outcomes for Veterans with spinal cord injury/disorder.

Little Rock

Dr. Michael Cucciare Featured by UAMS News Website

Congratulations to Dr. Cucciare for being highlighted by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) on their UAMS News website. UAMS News showcased Dr. Cucciare’s online program that has been shown to significantly reduce benzodiazepine use in adults. To learn more, visit https://news.uams.edu/2026/02/11/uams-research-shows-online-program-significantly-reduces-benzodiazepine-use-in-adults/.

New Orleans

Drs. Chelsea Ennis and Amanda Raines

Affiliates Published New Articles

Drs. Chelsea Ennis and Amanda Raines published on written exposure therapy and safety aid reduction treatment.

Ennis, C. R., Raines, A., M., Lewis, A. M., Slaton, K., Durand, B. A., Silverthorn, P., Poor, A., Saulnier, K. G., Chambliss, J. L., Gleason, E. E., & Franklin, C. L. (2026). Written exposure therapy delivered to trauma-exposed Veterans in primary care: A feasibility study. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 1–8.

Raines, A. M., Ennis, C. R., Thompson, B. Franklin, C. L., & Schmidt, N. B. (2026). Real-world delivery of a transdiagnostic safety aid reduction treatment for anxiety and related symptoms among Veterans presenting to primary care. Psychological Services. Advance online publication.

Last updated: May 5, 2026

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