A Unique Resource for Veterans

Dear Colleagues,

As a retired Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, I hold our nation’s veterans in particularly high regard. I spent most of my Air Force years at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, though I spent a two-year deployment at Royal Air Force Alconbury in England as a general medical officer. While in England, I took care of enlisted Air Force personnel, their spouses and children.

The closest I got to conflict were the many training exercises for chemical and nuclear war drills we had to perform. We trained to be ready but fortunately all was quiet during my service time. Unfortunately, many who serve in the armed forces face very challenging circumstances upon returning to civilian life.

I am pleased that at the University of Missouri, we have a unique resource available to our veterans: the Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic. The clinic, hosted by the School of Law, assists veterans with their discharge upgrades and Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation claims, all at no charge to the veteran.

This is where our MU School of Medicine comes in: medical students collaborate with law students and staff at the clinic to review medical records and provide guidance on medical issues.

In a show of cross-campus collaboration, the MU School of Medicine partners with the MU School of Law to support veterans throughout the state. I was pleased to attend the recent kickoff bootcamp and meet some of our participating medical students. Pictured, back row, left to right: Bingyue Zhang and Ben Liu; front row: Ishita Patel, Claire Boyce and Suryanshi Rawat.

I was honored to speak at the clinic’s recent annual bootcamp, where attendees learned more about military structure and culture to help prepare them to serve our country’s servicemembers.

This partnership between the Mizzou law and medical schools enhances the ability of the clinic in its advocacy for veterans. Together, we capitalize on the knowledge and skills of both medical and law students to secure invaluable benefits to veterans.

The Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic started in 2014 and has been an immense benefit to veterans. Under the direction of Brent Filbert, Captain, JAGC, U.S. Navy (Ret.), associate clinical professor of law; and Angela Drake, clinic founder and clinical professor of law, the clinic has secured more than $14 million in compensation for veterans and their families.

Director Brent Filbert, pictured presenting at the Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic bootcamp — Director Brent Filbert, pictured here presenting at the bootcamp, helps lead the Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic alongside founder Angela Drake.

I am proud that we partner with the School of Law in this important mission to care for our veterans in any way possible. I can think of no greater way to serve those who have served our country.

Sincerely,