BRAVE Program

06/24/2026

Check this out! If your local and looking for something to do this 4th of July- How about some adaptive water skiing?

The club still has about a dozen slots available for participants.

The Military Wounded Water Ski Event will be held from 7:30 a.m. to noon on July 4 at Lakefront Park in Pewaukee. The event is free for qualifying veterans.

The Pewaukee Lake Water Ski Club is seeking veterans to take part in a free adaptive waterskiing event July 4 at Lakefront Park in Pewaukee. MORE BELOW⬇️

06/24/2026

What feels like anger is often exhaustion, hypervigilance, grief, or fear wearing a different uniform.

IT'S NOT ANGER. IT'S ARMOR.

The goal was never to become angry. The goal was to stay alive.
A nervous system doing exactly what it was trained to do.

06/23/2026

The smiles say it all.

Our BRAVE participants recently spent time at Thunderhorse learning about the Horse-Human Connection, how horses communicate, participating in a Join-Up demonstration, working with horses in hand, and riding.

For many of our veterans and first responders, life has been spent moving fast, carrying heavy things, and staying on alert. Horses have a unique way of bringing people back to the present moment.

There is something powerful about the connection between humans and horses. No rank. No title. No expectations.

A heartfelt thank you to Thunderhorse for sharing your farm, your horses, and your passion with our participants. It was a day filled with learning, laughter, and healing.

06/22/2026

June is PTSD Awareness Month: Hypervigilance Doesn't Clock Out

Hypervigilance is one of the most effective survival skills a Veteran or First Responder can develop. It helps you identify threats. It keeps you alert. It helps you make split-second decisions in unpredictable environments.

The challenge is that the brain doesn't always know when the danger has passed. The human nervous system was designed to respond to acute danger. Not remain in a constant state of alert.

Over time, that constant state of readiness can affect sleep, relationships, parenting, communication, and the ability to simply relax and be present.

Many people assume hypervigilance only shows up on the job. In reality, it often follows people home. The problem is that after years of service, the nervous system doesn't always get the message that the danger has passed. What protects you on the job can make it difficult to connect at home or in social settings.

Hypervigilance is not weakness. It's not a character flaw. It's your brain doing exactly what it was trained to do: identify threats and keep you safe. The good news is that- Awareness is the first step. Recovery is possible. And with the right support, the nervous system can learn to feel safe again.

06/19/2026

🧠Brainstorming for Breakthroughs.

Last week, BRAVE's Medical Director, Dr. Burek joined researchers, clinicians, and innovators from across the country at the National Neurotrauma Symposium to discuss the latest advancements in brain injury research, recovery, and care.

Events like these remind us that meaningful progress happens when diverse perspectives come together with a shared goal: improving outcomes for those living with the effects of traumatic brain injury.

At BRAVE, we're proud to bring the experiences of Veterans and First Responders to these conversations and to continue learning from leaders across the neurotrauma community.

Together, we're advancing brain health, recovery, and hope.

06/18/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Dr. Mandi Ventura, PT, DPT, CBIS!

We are proud to share that Mandi has earned her designation as a Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) through the Brain Injury Association of America.

The CBIS credential is a nationally recognized certification awarded to professionals who demonstrate specialized knowledge, experience, and competency in working with individuals affected by brain injury. Candidates must complete rigorous training and have at least 500 hours of verified direct experience supporting individuals with brain injury.

At BRAVE, Mandi plays a critical role in helping Veterans and First Responders navigate the physical and neurological effects of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Through individualized treatment, she helps participants address challenges related to balance, dizziness, headaches, vestibular dysfunction, chronic pain, and overall functional performance.

This achievement reflects Mandi's dedication to lifelong learning and her unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality care to those we serve.

Please join us in congratulating Mandi on this well-deserved accomplishment! 👏

06/17/2026

Good luck, Kailey!

This spring, we had the privilege of hosting Kailey H., a second-year Doctor of Physical Therapy student from Northwestern University. Kailey H. was the first PT student to complete a clinical rotation with the BRAVE Program!

Kailey sought out this experience because of her passion for neuroscience and her connection to the military community. She quickly became part of our team, bringing initiative, compassion, curiosity, with an infectious energy that she brought to every day she spent with our veterans and first responders. She worked closely with the current PT staff and jumped into the workflow quickly.

Physical therapy plays an important role at BRAVE, helping participants address the physical and neurological effects of brain injury, chronic pain, balance issues, dizziness, and more. Kailey embraced this work wholeheartedly and made a lasting impact on both our team and those we serve.

As she returns to Northwestern to begin her final year of PT school, we want to thank her for all she contributed during her time here.

We know you'll do great things, Kailey. The future of physical therapy is bright! 💙

!

06/15/2026

We often picture PTSD as someone who can't function.

But what if that's not the whole story? What if PTSD sometimes looks like:

✔ Showing up early
✔ Never calling in sick
✔ Taking every overtime shift
✔ Being the one everyone depends on
✔ Smiling when people ask how you're doing

PTSD doesn't always announce itself. Sometimes it hides behind achievement.
Behind responsibility. Behind service. Behind success.

That's why awareness isn't enough.

We need real conversations about what trauma can look like in Veterans, Law Enforcement, Firefighters, EMS professionals, and Dispatchers.

Because the people struggling aren't always the ones you expect.

Sometimes they're the ones carrying everyone else.

06/14/2026