ALBANY, NY – The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) invites all who served to a Chat & Chew webinar on Thursday, November 13, 2025, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. (ET), titled Mind Matters: Veterans & Brain Health — Exploring the Nathan S. Kline Institute.
As part of DVS’s Veterans Month programming throughout November, this one-hour interactive session will highlight how the Nathan S. Kline Institute (NKI) is advancing groundbreaking brain science with direct relevance to all who served — spanning cognition, memory, Alzheimer’s disease, EEG research, and mental health innovations. Chat & Chew attendees will learn how NKI’s research is helping to deepen understanding of the human mind and how all who served can play a vital role in shaping the future of neuroscience and mental health.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (ET)
Register Here: https://meetny-gov.webex.com/weblink/register/r3c074fc92b4d35a4edf66c7719ca2aaa
Topic: Mind Matters: Veterans & Brain Health — Exploring the Nathan S. Kline Institute
Moderated by Dr. Lessie Branch, U.S. Navy, scholar, author, advocate, and DVS Special Assistant for Community Engagement
“This is an exciting opportunity for all who served to learn about cutting-edge brain research that may one day transform how we treat memory loss, PTSD, and other challenges connected to military service,” Viviana M. DeCohen, DVS Commissioner said. “By participating in these kinds of studies, individuals who served are not just helping themselves – they are helping to advance science that will benefit generations of heroes to come.”
Veterans Month is about celebration, reflection, and learning,” Joel Evans, DVS Executive Deputy Commissioner said. “We are thrilled to partner with the Nathan S. Kline Institute to explore the fascinating world of brain science, and to empower all who served with information that can truly change lives.”
Dr. Lessie Branch, DVS Special Assistant for Community Engagement, added: “Our ‘Chat & Chew’ series creates space for authentic, informative conversations between experts and all who served. Whether you are a researcher, a caregiver, someone who served, or a civilian and are curious about how brain health impacts your life, this is a must-attend discussion.”
Tap In! – which educates, empowers, and supports dementia and cancer patients and their caregivers with compassion, understanding, and meaningful resources – will also be participating in the November 13 Chat & Chew.
Chat & Chew Participants are encouraged to bring their lunch, their curiosity, and their questions for this informal, conversational webinar that bridges science and service.
About the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services:
The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services proudly serves New York’s Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families, connecting them with benefits, services, and support. All who served should contact the Department at 888-838-7697 or via its website – veterans.ny.gov – to meet in-person or virtually with an accredited Veterans Benefits Advisor to receive the benefits they have earned. Follow DVS on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Threads, and Bluesky Social.
About the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research:
As one of the nation’s most respected research centers focused on mental health, investigators at the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research (NKI) study the causes, treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation of severe and persistent mental illnesses. As a facility of the New York State Office of Mental Health, founded in 1952, NKI has earned a reputation for its landmark contributions in psychiatric research, especially in the areas of psychopharmacological treatments for schizophrenia and major mood disorders, dementia research, clinical trials methodology, neuroimaging, therapeutic drug monitoring, and the application of computer technology to mental health services.
About Tap In!:
Through innovative workshops and personalized guidance, Tap In! helps families, professionals, and communities care for loved ones living with dementia and cancer, ensuring that every patient and caregiver feels uplifted, supported, and comforted throughout their journey. Tap In! provides person centered and reflective education, courses on knowing the signs of dementia, caregiver education, access to professionals (elder care attorneys, counselors, Veterans’ benefits, and spiritual counselors), encourages dialog about dementia, provides a Tap n’ Share caregiver space and encouragement through scripture and positive reinforcement.
