MIRECC / CoE

Claire Hoffmire, PhD, Epidemiologist
Co-Lead ASCEND Investigator
Department of Veterans Affairs, Rocky Mountain MIRECC
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

I have worked in the field of Veteran suicide prevention since 2012. My research aims to inform evidence-based Veteran suicide prevention programs for all Veterans, within and outside the VA, and to better understand gender differences in Veteran suicide risk to inform gender-sensitive prevention strategies. I am leading this study because I believe that quality data can help us create a bridge between VA and the communities in which Veterans live. My goal is for ASCEND to contribute to building such a bridge that improves the health and well-being of all Veterans, and ultimately saves lives.

Lindsey Monteith, PhD, Clinical Psychologist
Co-Lead ASCEND Investigator
Department of Veterans Affairs, Rocky Mountain MIRECC
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Psychiatry

My research focuses on understanding how to prevent Veteran suicide, especially among traditionally under-studied and under-served populations, including women Veterans, racial and ethnic minority Veterans, survivors of military sexual trauma, and Veterans who do not use VA health care. My research also examines how interpersonal factors and stressful and traumatic experiences impact help-seeking and risk for suicide. I think it is critical to consider and understand Veterans’ perspectives and experiences when developing suicide prevention programming to ensure that it is relevant to their needs and preferences. I look forward to learning from the Veterans who participate in ASCEND to improve suicide prevention efforts for Veterans, including those who have not had a voice in previous suicide prevention research.

Ryan Holliday, PhD, Clinical Psychologist
ASCEND Co-Investigator
Department of Veterans Affairs, Rocky Mountain MIRECC
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Psychiatry

I am dedicated to improving our understanding of the intersection of trauma and life stressors, such as homelessness and justice involvement, on Veterans' mental health and suicide risk. My research seeks to understand how we, within out outside the VA health care system, can provide the best evidence-based care to Veterans who have experienced these occurrences throughout their lives. I am excited to be a part of the ASCEND team to further understand how we can use data to save Veteran lives.

Sean Barnes, PhD, Clinical Psychologist
ASCEND CO-Investigator
Department of Veterans Affairs, Rocky Mountain MIRECC
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Psychiatry

For the past decade, I have had the privilege of working in the VA as a therapist, researcher, and consultant for Veteran suicide prevention. My research has focused on gaining a better understanding of suicidal crises, improving suicide risk assessment, and developing therapies to help Veterans build vital, meaningful lives they will choose to live. I am honored to have the opportunity to use data from ASCEND to inform interventions and policies to support Veterans.

Lisa Brenner, PhD, Clinical Psychologist
ASCEND Consultant
Department of Veterans Affairs
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

I have over 20 years of experience working with Veterans and have been a champion of numerous VA efforts to prevent suicide among Veterans nationally. My research interests include traumatic brain injury and comorbid psychiatric disorders in relation to suicide risk. Providing high-quality, evidence-based care to Veterans is very important to me. I am excited to be a part of this national effort to collect important data that will be integral to informing improved suicide prevention programs for all Veterans.

Alexandra Schneider, BA
ASCEND Data Analyst
Department of Veterans Affairs, Rocky Mountain MIRECC

I have extensive experience working with large health care administrative databases and survey research data. This has given me a unique understanding of data sources and how they can be utilized to understand and improve health outcomes. I am also a passionate advocate for ensuring adherence to best practices for data storage and security. I am excited to be part of the ASCEND team as I believe this project will gather important, novel data that can be used to help Veterans.

Jeri Forster, PhD, Statistician
ASCEND Statistician & Director of Rocky Mountain MIRECC Data and Statistical Core
Department of Veterans Affairs, Rocky Mountain MIRECC
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
University of Colorado School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics and Informatics

I have been the Data and Statistical Core (DASC) Director since its inception in 2012. The DASC provides support for the research conducted at the MIRECC, including but not limited to, design, data management, and analytic support. In this role, I have led the statistical analyses for numerous studies focused on Veteran suicide prevention. My expertise is focused on longitudinal data analysis and accounting for informative dropout. I am passionate about all things data, especially as they pertain to the betterment of Veterans’ lives, and I am excited to be involved in the important work ASCEND is doing.

Leah Wendleton, MPH, MSW
ASCEND Veteran Engagement Board Liaison
Department of Veterans Affairs, Denver | Seattle COIN

I have worked in the VA since 2013 mainly working on Veteran Engagement, community based programming and suicide prevention projects. Throughout my time in the VA I have pushed to find ways to encourage systematic and regular Veteran engagement and integration in health programs and research projects. I served as the program manager for a community driven suicide prevention program and Co-lead of a rural Veteran engagement center. I strongly believe that by having Veterans being valued and integrating their voices in the work that we do will lead to better outcomes for individuals Veterans and the VA health care system as a whole. It is exciting to be part of such a great project for suicide prevention and to help support the Veterans collaborating in ASCEND.

Theresa Morano, MS
ASCEND Project Manager
Department of Veterans Affairs, Rocky Mountain MIRECC

In 2016, I started working for the VHA, in the Office of Rural Health (ORH), to provide rural Veterans with the highest quality care through our many telehealth incentives. During my time in ORH, I was actively involved in planning and implementing Veteran care with a focus on Cardiac Rehabilitation and Tobacco Cessation. In January 2022, I transitioned to the Rocky Mountain MIRECC, becoming a member of the ASPIRE Lab. Working with a team solely focused on suicide prevention has been equal parts fulfilling and eye-opening. Our ASCEND project, above all else, wants to impact as many Veterans as possible, and it is my greatest wish to instill a sense of hope for better health care availability, outreach, and connection with the Veterans I reach.

Additionally, the Rocky Mountain MIRECC has partnered with NORC at the University of Chicago (www.norc.org/) to conduct this project.