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BRAVE program prepares to launch Midwest hub in Wisconsin

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BRAVE program prepares to launch Midwest hub in Wisconsin


WAUWATOSA, Wis. — Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin will soon be home to the Midwest hub of the BRAVE program.

It’s the Midwest’s first program designed to treat traumatic brain injuries and PTSD in veterans and first responders. The Medical College announced the arrival of the program back in spring of this year.


What You Need To Know

  • BRAVE stands for Building Resilience through Action in Veterans and First Responders
  • The Medical College announced the arrival of the program back in spring of this year
  • It is being funded by the Avalon Action Alliance, which donated $12.5 million to kick start this program
  • It’s the Midwest’s first program designed to treat traumatic brain injuries and PTSD in veterans and first responders

BRAVE, which stands Building Resilience through Action in Veterans and First Responders, is an intensive, three-week, outpatient program designed to treat the needs of veterans and first responders dealing with brain injuries and mental health crises.

It is being funded by the Avalon Action Alliance, which donated $12.5 million to kick start the program. Officials said they hope to start taking patients for the program at the end of December.

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Dr. Greg Burek serves as the medical director of BRAVE.

“When you have a program like this, and you do it right, you do it with a culture in mind. It becomes a focal point within the veteran community,” Burek said.

Burek is a Marine veteran who is no stranger to the silent wounds of war. He said it’s one of the many reasons why he became a psychiatrist and wanted to be a part of this new programing.

(Photo courtesy of Dr. Greg Burek)

He said being a veteran and treating veterans can make a large impact on patient outcomes, simply by having a better understanding of what they are going through.

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“It’s really important for the vet and first responder to feel understood,” He said. “You have to understand that culture in order to feel understood.”

BRAVE Executive Director Dr. Michael McCrea specializes in clinical care and research on traumatic brain injuries at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

“For us to be in a position to give back and dedicate our specialty in traumatic brain injury to providing this intensive treatment to these individuals who have served and restore them to the best forms of themselves is a real honor,” McCrea said.

(Spectrum News 1/Megan Marshall)

As of November, the final details were being put into place and hiring was almost complete. Burek said he is looking forward to the impact this program will make in the near future.

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“We are going to be able to do a lot of things we wouldn’t be able to do in a regular clinical setting,” Burek said. “We are going to be able to add in art therapy, music therapy, yoga, equine therapy.”

He said this program will work alongside what’s being done at the VA and allow for further care to be provided to veterans and first responders in need.

Those interested in learning more about BRAVE can email the team at BRAVE@mcw.edu.



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Wisconsin

Former Wisconsin Badger and Atlanta Falcon Peter Konz hosting football camp

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Former Wisconsin Badger and Atlanta Falcon Peter Konz hosting football camp


ROSCOE, Ill. (WIFR) – Former Wisconsin Badgers and Atlanta Falcons starting center Peter Konz is helping local football players get ready for their upcoming seasons with an upcoming football camp. From Monday to Thursday of next week (July 8th – July 11th), Konz will use his years of football experience to teach the next generation of football players at Cross Park in Roscoe.

Konz has put together a long football resume over the years. Playing his college football at Wisconsin, he was their starting center from 2009 to 2011 — playing alongside future NFL stars Russell Wilson and J.J. Watt and starting in the Rose Bowl. He was later drafted in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons, playing three and a half seasons on their offensive line.

Now there’s another Konz getting ready to start his football journey.

“Really what spurred this latest football adventure for me is I have a nine year old,” Konz said. “When he got to tackle football age, I really wanted to introduce him in the proper way, I didn’t want to just throw him into the fire. So my wife thought that’d be a great thing to give back to the community and just be involved. So I volunteered for his football team last year.”

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Initially skeptical about entering the coaching side of the sport, it didn’t take him long to discover his latest chapter in football.

“I didn’t know if I would like it,” Konz said of joining the coaching world. “Then we got into the speed and agility and this camp is gonna be more football specific. I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve really enjoyed being able to pull kids aside and really help them on a granular level. Showing them how to do some of these techniques that they’re attempting and really coaching them up. I’m really hoping that this camp is going to move forward for years to come.”

Konz will also give away scholarships to any family in need at the camp. Registration is still open for any football player age 7 or up — anyone interested in joining can email narrowgatelearning@gmail.com.



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Reports: Biden could visit Wisconsin this week as campaign plans meeting with governors

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Reports: Biden could visit Wisconsin this week as campaign plans meeting with governors


(WBAY) – President Biden’s team is discussing having him visit Wisconsin and Pennsylvania this week, according to a report from the New York Times.

The Times reports the President could visit Wisconsin on Friday and Pennsylvania on Sunday.

Additionally, some Democratic governors are seeking a meeting with the White House to discuss their concerns about the President following the aftermath of his debate performance, according to a report from CNN, which cites multiple sources.

CNN reports concerns from some of the nation’s Democratic governors were aired on a call Monday organized by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, one of the sources said. The call was attended by governors only.

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Plans for the meeting at the White House are underway but it has not been scheduled, CNN says.

Action 2 News has reached out to Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers for comment.



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What to know about ‘The Bachelorette’ Jenn Tran, who’s also a UW-Madison alum

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What to know about ‘The Bachelorette’ Jenn Tran, who’s also a UW-Madison alum


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Here’s what to know about Jenn Tran, “The Bachelorette” of Season 21 — who also happens to be a University of Wisconsin-Madison alum.

Tran appeared on “The Bachelor” last season, and during the finale, was announced as the next “Bachelorette.”

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How did she end up on “The Bachelor” in the first place? Did she ever dream she’d become “The Bachelorette”? And, how does it feel to be the show’s first Asian American lead?

After chatting with Tran over Zoom last week, we’ve answered all of these questions and more:

How old is ‘Bachelorette’ Jenn Tran?

26

Where is ‘Bachelorette’ Jenn Tran from?

She was born in New Jersey after her parents and brother immigrated to the United States from Vietnam, Tran shared in a “Get Ready with Me”-style video “Bachelor Nation” posted in May in celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

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Jenn Tran is ‘The Bachelorette’s’ first Asian American lead

“It’s overwhelming,” Tran told the Journal Sentinel. “There’s a lot of emotions around it.”

Mainly, she’s grateful and honored.

Tran hopes to inspire young Asian American girls who are “dealing with the same things” she did as a kid — “having a bit of an identity crisis and not knowing where they fit in” — as well as anyone who has ever felt like they didn’t fit in somewhere.

“I never would’ve dreamed of becoming the role model I once needed when I was a kid,” she said. “It’s really quite full-circle and surreal.”

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What does ‘Bachelorette’ Jenn Tran do?

Tran has been working toward becoming a physician assistant, but is currently taking a “little break” from PA school, which is in south Miami. In the words of her favorite artist Taylor Swift, Tran has “a lot going on at the moment.”

“I want to be able to really focus on PA school the best that I can because the end goal is to be a good provider,” Tran said. “I’m just pushing it off until I have a lot more time to dedicate to it.”

Jenn Tran’s time at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Tran transferred in the middle of her sophomore year to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she studied molecular biology.

“Madison just seemed like the best college town — and it definitely was,” she said.

She enjoyed going to Badger games and playing club lacrosse. Her hangouts included the Memorial Union Terrace, Eno Vino Wine Bar and Bistro (where she used to work) and The Coopers Tavern.

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Tran was in the class of 2020, so her spring commencement was virtual. She returned to Madison in September 2021 for an in-person graduation celebration.

Tran wants to make it back sometime during a summer and also for a UW football game.

Read more about Tran’s Madison days here.

How did Jenn Tran end up on ‘The Bachelor’?

Tran got a direct message on Instagram from a casting producer who had come across her PA school TikToks, she said, and was offered an interview.

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At the time, she wondered if it was a scam and didn’t think she was going to go through with it.

“I did the interviews, and then, one thing led to another,” she said.

Tran made it to the top six on this past season of “The Bachelor” with Joey Graziadei, who also has ties to Wisconsin. She was announced as the next “Bachelorette” lead on the Season 28 finale of “The Bachelor.”

Did Jenn Tran ever dream she’d be ‘The Bachelorette’?

“God no,” Tran said, laughing. “I never saw myself in this role at all.”

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After her time on “The Bachelor,” she was just going to go right back to PA school.

So, when she got a call about “The Bachelorette,” she said, it really took her by surprise. She went through meetings and interviews for it. And, while she was initially “on the fence,” she ended up deciding to give it a whirl.

“I am a hopeless romantic and I really believe in true love and finding your partner,” she said. “I hadn’t ever really been in love before. And, I know how fast connections can build the first time around, so I was like, this is a really good environment for that to happen. And, I wanted to follow my dreams and fall in love.”

What does ‘Bachelorette’ Jenn Tran like to do?

Tran enjoys working out, painting, paddleboarding, reading and traveling.

Who are the contestants vying for ‘Bachelorette’ Jenn Tran’s heart?

There are 25 suitors, including the aerospace engineer twin brother of a “Bachelor Nation” alum, medical school students, entrepreneurs and former athletes.

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Here are their names and bios.

How to watch ‘The Bachelorette’ Season 21

“The Bachelorette” Season 21 premiere is at 7 p.m. CT July 8 on ABC. It streams on Hulu the next day.





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