Contact Information
Naval Medical Center San DiegoPhysical Medicine & Rehabilitation (42-DGH)
34730 Bob Wilson Drive, Suite 201
San Diego, CA 92134-3201
Phone: 619.532.5088 (Clinic Referral Questions)
Phone: 760.763.1693 or 619.532.5508 (Program Management)
Website
Catchment Area
AZ, Southern CA, HI, NV
Leadership
CAPT John T. Neff MC, USN
CAPT John T. Neff was raised in Southern California where he attended high school and college. He left the comfortable confines of California to attend medical school in the wonderful city of St. Louis where he graduated in 1990. After his internship in San Diego and service as Battalion Surgeon at Camp Pendleton, he was afforded the opportunity to pursue residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He completed his residency training at Stanford University in 1996. In 2003, he went on to pursue his fellowship training in Pain and Palliative Medicine at UC San Diego. Currently, he works in San Diego as department head of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, site director for DVBIC, Medical Director for C5 (Comprehensive and Complex Casualty Care Center), and director of the Office of Neurotrauma. He also is the advisor to the Navy Surgeon General for the specialty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Cynthia Boyd, Ph.D., Co-Senior Scientific Director, Neuropsychologist
Dr. Boyd has been involved in clinical and educational efforts at DVBIC-Naval Medical Center San Diego for the past nine years. She has focused not only on TBI, but also the overlap of TBI and PTSD affecting physical, cognitive and behavioral issues. She is a subject matter expert on violence associated with these disorders. She has been actively involved in the legal/forensic arena, specifically regarding TBI and legal issues in returning troops. Since 2008, she has participated with the legal community to establish a Veteran’s Court in San Diego. Under California Penal Code 1170.9, the law allows for judges to offer treatment as alternative sentencing to veterans diagnosed with TBI, PTSD, substance abuse, and other qualifying conditions associated with combat exposure. As a representative of DVBIC, she has been invited to provide TBI and PTSD educational trainings to members of law enforcement, district attorneys, public defenders, Navy JAG, and California superior court judges. Dr. Boyd also has an independent practice in forensic neuropsychology specializing in forensic evaluations of TBI, PTSD and violent offenders. She has been retained as an expert witness in capital cases involving veterans with TBI and PTSD.
Program Overview
Mission
DVBIC Naval Medical Center San Diego was established in 1992. The clinic serves active duty service members from all military branches within our region, which includes Southern California, Arizona, Hawaii and Nevada.
Patient Volume/Population
DVBIC Naval Medical Center San Diego evaluates more than 200 new patient referrals per year. In recent years, a large number of referrals have been for service members returning from theater. In addition to evaluating combat-related TBI, we also recognize the importance of evaluating service members sustaining a TBI from other mechanisms such as, motor vehicle accidents, assaults, falls, sports-related injuries and military training injuries. Currently, our patient population is primarily active duty service members from the Navy and Marine Corps. Our team also provides clinical and educational resources to underserved regions. Our outreach services have extended to Alaska, Nevada, and Hawaii, and other areas of California including Twenty-nine Palms and Fort Irwin where we provided mass post-deployment screening and provider education.
Areas of Specialty
Clinical Services
DVBIC Naval Medical Center San Diego provides optimal care and treatment for active duty service members with TBI. Service members referred to DVBIC-Naval Medical Center San Diego receive specialized TBI consultation, including TBI screenings, and neuropsychological assessment. Auxiliary services if required include: coordination of other specialty services, duty status determination, and recommendations to the medical evaluation board and Naval Aerospace Medical Institute. Additionally, service members are offered educational resources including a wide range of topics related to TBI and co-occurring conditions. They also have the opportunity to participate in TBI related research.
Education
Educational efforts at DVBIC Naval Medical Center San Diego aim to increase the understanding of TBI for DoD, VA and civilian providers through comprehensive and engaging presentations conducted by Dr. Boyd. With the help of the regional education coordinator, DVBIC Naval Medical Center San Diego has equipped neuropsychologists, social workers, behavioral and mental health staff, service members, and their families with clinical tools, public awareness materials, and caregiver information to better handle the diagnosis and management of TBI. Through Yellow Ribbon Reintegration events, exhibit tables at national conferences, and collaboration with other treatment facilities, DVBIC Naval Medical Center San Diego continues to educate providers and service members by disseminating the most accurate and up to date information about TBI.
Past efforts have included TBI training to independent duty corpsmen, surface warfare medical officers, MACE training, military medical providers, mental health providers and JAG.
Research
DVBIC Naval Medical Center San Diego works in conjunction with DVBIC Camp Pendleton conducting clinical research focused on the behavioral, emotional and cognitive consequences of TBI. Nationally, we are involved in two multi-site longitudinal investigations collecting valuable data on the long-term consequences of TBI. Locally, our research team is focused on using the immense amount of information that our site has collected as part of our clinical services in the last decade. We are retrospectively examining clinical data that was collected through the treatment of military personnel during OEF/OIF. This data will be used for research to help address some critical questions about military TBI. Additionally, our site is investigating the influence that TBI and post-traumatic stress disorder has on irritability, anger, and aggressive behavior in our combat veterans.
Additional staff include:
Clinical and research neuropsychologists, TBI coordinator, regional care coordinator, regional education coordinator, research coordinator, psychometrist, program manager and administrative personnel.