Lt. Gen. P.K. Carlton, Jr.

Retired Lt. Gen. P.K. Carlton Jr.

Retired Lt. Gen. P.K. Carlton Jr. will speak about the health care of soldiers during the Dennis Berman Brain Performance Lecture, an event hosted by the University's Center for BrainHealth through its Brain Performance Institute.

Carlton, former U.S. Air Force surgeon general, will present “Firefight: Inside the Battle to Transform Health for America’s Warriors on Deployment and Here at Home” on Oct. 22.

He will highlight the impact of medical advances that led to the highest survival rate in the history of war and share how mere survival is not enough. He will also discuss ways to improve acute and long-term care to help service members thrive during and after service, and the path to transforming health care for servicemen and women.

“The brain is the last great frontier in medicine, and the Center for BrainHealth and Brain Performance Institute are pioneers in arming the warrior community with tools to harness their best brain health,” Carlton said.

A trailblazer in the field of military medicine, Carlton is the author of the current war plan of far-forward surgical capabilities and in-air critical care, which resulted in a dramatic increase in survival rates.

Dennis Berman Brain Performance Lecture

“Firefight: Inside the Battle to Transform Health for America’s Warriors on Deployment and Here at Home” with retired Air Force Lt. Gen. P.K. Carlton Jr., will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, at the Center for BrainHealth, at 2200 W. Mockingbird Lane. A reception at 6 p.m. precedes the lecture.

Tickets are $35 each and $125 for four; lecture sponsorships are $2,500 (10 tickets), and may be purchased online. Complimentary tickets are available for soldiers, their spouses and caregivers. Contact Julie Carter at (972) 883-3277 or julie.carter@utdallas.edu.

Carlton’s changes in battlefield procedure helped save at least one Brain Performance Institute team member. Retired Marine Cpl. Jacob Schick was severely wounded in 2004 in Iraq when a triple-stacked tank mine detonated beneath his Humvee.

“My immediate evacuation from the war zone was a direct reflection of General Carlton’s innovative medical efforts,” said Schick, a warrior relations specialist with the Brain Performance Institute. “I know there are countless others that are alive today because of his extraordinary accomplishments.”

Eric Bennett, executive director for the Brain Performance Institute, said that ensuring the health and welfare of soldiers is critical.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that these courageous men and women are equipped with the tools to lead fulfilling lives in and out of uniform,” Bennett said. “The Brain Performance Institute is paving the way for warriors to flourish and achieve their full brain potential, and General Carlton’s work epitomizes innovation that capitalizes on emerging scientific discoveries. We are grateful for his courage and conviction to continue fighting for the best medical solutions possible.”