Serving veterans through social work

As an intern at the Carolina Veterans Resource Center, Ilana Shtivelman ’23 (MSW) is working to understand how to support veterans and military affiliated populations, particularly through a mental health lens. She is researching a condition called moral injury, a response to engaging in situations that contradict an individual’s values and moral beliefs.

Shtivelman, a recipient of the Vera Tayeh Innovations and Impact Award, is designing, implementing and evaluating her work in collaboration with the UNC School of Social Work’s Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab. She hopes her work will bring more awareness and support to the field of social work as it relates to serving veterans and military affiliated populations.

“This is essential work that often does not get the attention it so desperately needs, resulting in many people being left behind, after giving their all,” Shtivelman said. “I hope to engage in research and practice that can shine more light on this population, the challenges faced and their enduring strength.”