53 min
Celebrating Military Medical Spouses and Families: Strength, Resilience, and Support Systems WarDocs - The Military Medicine Podcast
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- Medicine
There's no doubt that military spouses and families are the unsung heroes of our nation's military community. As Host Doug Soderdahl and Guest Host Kim Causey sat down with Sue Clark and Melinda Stackle, their strength and resilience became evident. These incredible women, married to retired Major General Jeff Clark and Colonel Mark Stackle, respectively, share their unique experiences and challenges in navigating the demanding lifestyle of being a military medical spouse. In our conversation, we explore the unique challenges, sacrifices, and strength of the families of military medical providers, as they navigate the demanding lifestyle of traveling away from relatives and adapting to new military customs and traditions.
We were fascinated to hear how Sue and Melinda managed their households and coped with the uncertainties of their spouses' deployments which can be particularly challenging for all military spouses and families. Their stories emphasized the importance of having strong support systems and learning from senior military spouses. They also shared strategies for coping with deployments and reintegration, offering a rare glimpse into the realities of military family life.
In this heartfelt discussion, we also explore ways to better support military spouses and families, such as intentionally educating them on resources and strengthening their buy-in to military life. We were inspired by the Oak Leaf Club at Walter Reed, which serves as an excellent example of how auxiliaries and organizations can provide similar programs. Ultimately, this episode is a celebration of military medical spouses and their immense significance in caring for our nation's warriors and supporting the cause of freedom.
Chapters:
(0:00:00) - Military Medical Spouses
(0:16:23) - Challenges of Military Spouses During Deployments
(0:22:01) - Coping With Deployments and Reintegration
(0:28:31) - Supporting Military Spouses and Families
(0:42:55) - Challenges and Opportunities for Military Spouses
Chapter Summaries:
(0:00:00) - Military Medical Spouses (16 Minutes)
We honor military medical spouses by learning about the unique challenges, sacrifices, and indomitable strength of those married to military medical providers. We hear from Sue Clark and Melinda Stackle, both military medical spouses of many years, who share their personal stories of how they and their spouses met and the most difficult assignments they had. We explore how the transition from clinical practice to operational command can be a significant challenge, creating a demanding lifestyle of traveling away from family and making it difficult to identify with the military side of life.
(0:16:23) - Challenges of Military Spouses During Deployments (6 Minutes)
We hear directly from military medical spouses on the unique challenges and sacrifices they face when their spouse is deployed. We learn how they must manage the house and family while the spouse is away, and how communication has changed over the years. We also discuss the need to put systems in place to prepare for the deployment and how to cope with the unknowns of the situation.
(0:22:01) - Coping With Deployments and Reintegration (6 Minutes)
We understand the unique challenges that come with deployments, including reintegration when a spouse returns home. We explore strategies for coping, and the importance of finding a good support group. We hear directly from service members and spouses on how to best manage the challenges of deployments, and how to reintegrate when a spouse returns home. We discuss the difficulties faced when communicating with family while deployed, and the importance of talking to each other and taking things slowly as part of the reintegration process.
(0:28:31) - Supporting Military Spouses and Families (14 Minutes)
We discuss how military spouses can better support each other and their families. We explore ways to strengthen the buy-in of spouses into the milit
There's no doubt that military spouses and families are the unsung heroes of our nation's military community. As Host Doug Soderdahl and Guest Host Kim Causey sat down with Sue Clark and Melinda Stackle, their strength and resilience became evident. These incredible women, married to retired Major General Jeff Clark and Colonel Mark Stackle, respectively, share their unique experiences and challenges in navigating the demanding lifestyle of being a military medical spouse. In our conversation, we explore the unique challenges, sacrifices, and strength of the families of military medical providers, as they navigate the demanding lifestyle of traveling away from relatives and adapting to new military customs and traditions.
We were fascinated to hear how Sue and Melinda managed their households and coped with the uncertainties of their spouses' deployments which can be particularly challenging for all military spouses and families. Their stories emphasized the importance of having strong support systems and learning from senior military spouses. They also shared strategies for coping with deployments and reintegration, offering a rare glimpse into the realities of military family life.
In this heartfelt discussion, we also explore ways to better support military spouses and families, such as intentionally educating them on resources and strengthening their buy-in to military life. We were inspired by the Oak Leaf Club at Walter Reed, which serves as an excellent example of how auxiliaries and organizations can provide similar programs. Ultimately, this episode is a celebration of military medical spouses and their immense significance in caring for our nation's warriors and supporting the cause of freedom.
Chapters:
(0:00:00) - Military Medical Spouses
(0:16:23) - Challenges of Military Spouses During Deployments
(0:22:01) - Coping With Deployments and Reintegration
(0:28:31) - Supporting Military Spouses and Families
(0:42:55) - Challenges and Opportunities for Military Spouses
Chapter Summaries:
(0:00:00) - Military Medical Spouses (16 Minutes)
We honor military medical spouses by learning about the unique challenges, sacrifices, and indomitable strength of those married to military medical providers. We hear from Sue Clark and Melinda Stackle, both military medical spouses of many years, who share their personal stories of how they and their spouses met and the most difficult assignments they had. We explore how the transition from clinical practice to operational command can be a significant challenge, creating a demanding lifestyle of traveling away from family and making it difficult to identify with the military side of life.
(0:16:23) - Challenges of Military Spouses During Deployments (6 Minutes)
We hear directly from military medical spouses on the unique challenges and sacrifices they face when their spouse is deployed. We learn how they must manage the house and family while the spouse is away, and how communication has changed over the years. We also discuss the need to put systems in place to prepare for the deployment and how to cope with the unknowns of the situation.
(0:22:01) - Coping With Deployments and Reintegration (6 Minutes)
We understand the unique challenges that come with deployments, including reintegration when a spouse returns home. We explore strategies for coping, and the importance of finding a good support group. We hear directly from service members and spouses on how to best manage the challenges of deployments, and how to reintegrate when a spouse returns home. We discuss the difficulties faced when communicating with family while deployed, and the importance of talking to each other and taking things slowly as part of the reintegration process.
(0:28:31) - Supporting Military Spouses and Families (14 Minutes)
We discuss how military spouses can better support each other and their families. We explore ways to strengthen the buy-in of spouses into the milit
53 min