SCHOLAR DIRECTORY

Lauren Hamilton entered the field of nursing as an undergraduate student at West Virginia University. Her introduction to the veteran population occurred as a student nurse fulfilling a clinical rotation at a Veteran’s Medical Center. In 2008, Lauren completed West Virginia University’s Bachelor of Science degree program in Nursing. Lauren had previously completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography, also from West Virginia University, in 2004. Lauren uncovered her passion for the psychological aspects of health care through experience as a staff RN in critical care and post-surgical areas at a series of University based medical centers in West Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Her research interests include holistic models of care, chronic illness self-management and the use of evidenced based mind-body interventions for mental health care prevention and maintenance. A family member serving in the U.S. Marine Corps has exposed Lauren to the military community’s unique culture. Enlightened to the need for culturally relevant care for U.S. military veterans, Lauren is inspired to devote her advanced-practice nursing career to the challenge of improving mental health care services for veterans. Lauren believes that promoting alternative and innovative approaches will be essential in order to provide more accessible, affordable and evidenced-based quality care to this population. In August 2014 Lauren will begin the Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree program with a specialty in the area of Mental Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.