Episode #74: Zach Iscol
A combat decorated former Marine Corps officer, Zach Iscol served two tours in Iraq and on other assignments throughout Africa and the Middle East.
Zach is the Founder, Chairman, and former Executive Director of the Headstrong Project, a non-profit healthcare company partnered with Weill Cornell Medical Center that provides effective, cost and bureaucracy free mental healthcare to veterans suffering from the hidden wounds of war. Headstrong builds and manages private practice networks of world-class providers in over 25 cities and counting. He founded the Headstrong Project with the steadfast belief that if veterans have the courage to get help, and they get the right help, they can recover from their hidden wounds and return to leading meaningful and impactful lives. To date, Headstrong has successfully treated over 1500 veterans.
Zach is also the founder and CEO of the military and veterans focused digital media company, Task & Purpose, and its associated brands- the veterans employment site, Hirepurpose, and MilSpouse Festivals, which produces events for military families to network and build community. As an advocate for the men and women fighting today’s wars, Task & Purpose has had a sizable impact on changes to the military justice system, healthcare, aviation safety, housing, weapons and equipment, and the execution of our freight policy. By working with over 100 Fortune 1000 companies and countless small businesses, Hirepurpose has helped over 50,000 veterans with personalized career guidance, networking, and job matching.
As an officer in the Marine Corps, Zach Iscol served under and was mentored by people who emphasized the importance of taking care of your people... and that lesson came home with him. After his service ended, he witnessed the heavy toll of PTSD and other military-related trauma on veterans. In particular, the suicide rate among veterans--including people he served with--drove him to action. On today’s episode, Zach and I talk about how the Headstrong Project removes barriers for veterans seeking care, and the impact it has had for over 1,500 veterans in seven years. We also talk about why education around PTSD and other mental health challenges is so important, especially when it comes to combating stigma and understanding that PTSD is treatable. Finally, we talk about the culture of service among veterans and military members, and why people who participate in the program are so eager to tell others about it.
“The easy part is, ironically, the treatment. The harder part is getting people to step forward and get treatment.”
Here are some of the things Zach and I chatted about:
The conversations, particularly about veteran suicide rate, that led to the Headstrong Project
The role Dr. Anne Beeder played in helping him understand how mental illness can be treated
Why, while he was serving, Dr. Beeder was his first call if he had a Marine who needed help
How his mentors within the Marines taught him the importance of taking care of your people
Why it was a priority to remove barriers to care and make it cost free and bureaucracy free
How, once a veteran has reached out to the Headstrong Project, care unfolds from there
The modalities that clinicians are trained in, from trauma to sex counseling to group therapy
The average treatment time per person (though there is no limit on the number of sessions)
How they track the progress of people in the program, and the kind of results they’ve seen
Lack of education and understanding about mental healthcare, and the dynamic that results
The Headstrong Project’s treatment adherence rate, and how it compares to other programs
The need to double fundraising each year, given that the program doubles each year as well
Why, as veterans are treated, they start to talk openly about their experience in the program
How his role at the Headstrong Project has shifted, and his work with Task & Purpose
“Unfortunately, it is an epidemic. We’re losing over 17 veterans a day to suicide.”
Support for this episode comes from Abridge. Abridge is a free app that helps you capture the details of your care so you can make the most of your next doctor's appointment. In addition to recording conversations with your doctor, it highlights and creates an index of key medical points so you can review them later on. To learn more and download Abridge for free, visit www.abridgeapp.com/madevisible.