Caring for a Vulnerable Population: Reservists, Military Veterans and Their Families Navigating Care in the Civilian Health Sector
A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Care Sciences".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 6
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue will focus on three unique populations that are not typically viewed as being vulnerable, but who do experience unique impacts on their health and well-being by virtue of their work. The first population are the serving Service Members in the military Reserve Components. Reservists balance two careers—one civilian and one military—while also taking care of family members and participating in the communities in which they live and work. They are often invisible to others, including to their health care providers. This series of papers will have a more global focus and will include those who serve in one of the Reserve Components in NATO member countries, with an emphasis on the gaps in knowledge about this unique and discreet population.
A second population are those who formerly served in the U.S. military but who are now classified as veterans and who may be receiving some or all their health care in the civilian/public health care space, as are their family members. Approximately 50% of American Veterans receive their health care outside of the Veterans Administration, even if they are eligible for some or all their care through the VA.
The third population of interest are the family members of veterans or reservists and their own health and well-being as they navigate the civilian health care system. Families of reservists may not move as often as those who were affiliated with someone on active duty, but they do experience the stress and uncertainty of deployments and issues such as child care. Family members of veterans can no longer access federal health care systems associated with serving on active duty and must learn to navigate the civilian health care system. They have moved often and may have experienced toxic exposures secondary to the location of military assignments.
Prof. Dr. Margaret C. Wilmoth
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- military reservists health
- access to care for family of military veterans
- quality of care for veterans across health care settings
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