MCON HEALTH
In partnership with
About MCON Health
In partnership with Psycharmor, join us for a groundbreaking one-day summit dedicated to transforming brain health, mental health, care delivery, payment mechanisms, and suicide prevention for veterans, active-duty service members, and military families. This event will bring together leaders from the fields of neuroscience, mental health, technology, and policy to explore the latest innovations, emerging technologies, and collaborative strategies to address critical challenges facing the military community.
The conference will feature thought-provoking panels, solution-driven workshops, and keynote presentations with a special focus on cutting-edge technologies, such as AI-driven diagnostics, wearable health tech, and data-driven early intervention tools. Attendees will gain actionable insights on how innovation and community collaboration can create lasting impact in brain health and suicide prevention.
mcon health 6 pillars of change
Key event focus areas
Brain Health & Mental Wellness
Exploring breakthroughs in neuroscience and holistic approaches to improve cognitive health.
Suicide Prevention
Evidence-based strategies and proactive interventions to reduce suicide rates in the military community.
AI & Emerging Technologies
Showcasing how artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and health tech can revolutionize care and prevention efforts
Family & Community Support
Strengthening mental health support systems for military families and caregivers
Innovation & Collaboration
Highlighting successful partnerships between public, private, and nonprofit sectors are driving positive changes.
key features
Expert keynote speakers from military leadership, neuroscience, and tech innovation
Interactive panel discussions with innovators, mental health professionals, and veteran advocates
Live demos of cutting-edge mental health technologies
Breakout workshops focusing on real-world solutions and implementation strategies
Networking sessions to foster cross-sector collaboration
event outcomes
At the end of the conference, attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how brain health, technology, and collaboration can drive impactful changes. The event will foster public-private partnerships, identify ways to disseminate tools more effectively, shorten the research to implementation timeline, and inspire action plans to implement innovative solutions within military and veteran communities.
Together, we can lead the charge in protecting the well-being of those who serve.
who should attend?
Health care professionals and mental health experts
Payers and healthcare delivery systems
Technology innovators and AI developers
Military and government leaders
Nonprofit organizations focused on brain health and suicide prevention
Researchers and academic institutions
Veterans, active-duty service members, and military families
Speakers
Keita Franklin
Chief Behavioral Health Officer, Leidos / Co-Director, Columbia Lighthouse Project
Lindsay Knight, PhD
Chief Impact Officer, Blue Star Families
Heather O'Beirne Kelly, PhD
Director of Wellness and Prevention Special Assistant to the Superintendent United States Naval Academy
Dana Burl
Deputy Secretary, Military Family Policy and Programs Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families
Dr. Lisa Wertz, EdD, PMP, CSPO
Managing Director & Program Manager, MDE ACE AI Pilot at US Department of Veterans Affairs
Eduardo F. Ortiz
CEO, Coforma
Wendy Lakso
Director of Partnerships and Military & Veteran Initiatives, The Columbia Lighthouse Project
Sergeant Major Christopher M. McNamara
Human Weapons System SME, U.S. Army Special Operations Command
Brandon Davis
Founder & CEO of ARK Health Foundation
Brian J. McGuire
Former Director, USMC Human Performance Branch
Kevin Bigelman, PHD,USA(RET)
Holistic Health and Fitness Deputy Director, U.S. Army Veteran
John Schmitt
CEO, iXpressGenes Inc
Melissa Hawkins
Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Professional Human Performance Optimization Advocate Marine Corps Veteran
Jeffrey R. Hebert, PhD, PT
Director of Research, and Director of the Physical Performance Laboratory at the Marcus Institute for Brain Health
Adam Marr
Director of Operations at the Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition (VMHLC)
Max Rohn
U.S. Navy veteran, motivational speaker, and proud representative of America’s VetDogs
John Wayne Troxell
SEAC, United States Army (ret), Owner and Founder, PME Hard Consulting
CARIE RODGERS, Ph.D., ABPP
Executive Advisor, PsychArmor
Grace Yan, PHD, ABPP
Supervisory Health Systems Specialist Office of Patient Centered Care & Cultural Transformation (OPCC&CT) Veterans Health Administration
Dr. Nick Boyd
Assistant Professor at the University of San Diego, and VA San Diego Lead Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor
Dustin Harris, PhD, MSW, BCD
Director of Psychological Health (Joint) | Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Carrie Farmer
Director, Health Services and Outcomes Program; Codirector, RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute
Derek Blumke
Fellow, Gruntstyle Foundation
Chris Jachimiec
Senior Consultant & Las Vegas Veteran Advocate
James Zenner
Director, Los Angeles Dept of Military & Veteran Affairs
Craig Bryan PsyD, ABPP
Director of the Suicide Care Clinic and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Vermont
Tony Teravainen
CEO & Co-Founder, Support The Enlisted Project (STEP)
Richard Egan
Suicide Prevention, Training & Outreach Facilitator, Nevada Office of Suicide Prevention Division of Public and Behavioral Health
Friday october 24, 2025
schedule of events
Opening Plenary
9:00am
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9:30am
Breakout Session I
11:00am
-
12:00pm
Innovation Roundtable
4:00pm
-
4:45pm
Special thanks to our sponsors