Brig. Gen. Bryan Gamble For Soldiers with posttraumatic stress disorder, mild traumatic brain injury and chronic pain, it’s a place where they come to be strengthened in their bodies, minds and spirits.

And Brig. Gen. Bryan Gamble, Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center commanding general, would like to see the center designated as the Fortitude Center.

“The Fortitude Center combines all assets and capabilities of a center of excellence whereby we can take care of body, mind and spirit. It’s not really found anywhere else,” he said.

The Fortitude Center would be a “multi-disciplinary pain management program in combination with other programs.”

Using a variety of different approaches, doctors, counselors, clinicians and therapists seek to help the patient in the healing process of TBI, PTSD and pain management. The treatment includes traditional methods such as medication, but also adds other non-traditional methods such as the use of acupuncture and exercise in pain management.

DDEAMC also has a residential treatment facility for Soldiers with substance abuse problems. There are 10 beds in the facility, but there are plans to expand it to 20.

“A lot of problems are interrelated. People who have pain and depression self-medicate with alcohol or drugs. We want to break these cycles and return them to a productive, vibrant life,” he said.

In the past few months, the Neuroscience and Rehabilitation Center with its accredited TBI program has drawn important visitors such as Gen. Martin Dempsey, the Training and Doctrine Command Commander and U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, a member of the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs.

Dempsey’s “visit has drawn a lot of other interested queries,” said Gamble.

With such a designation, there is the possibility of funds being brought into the hospital to put back into the programs.

“We’d be looking at new construction and more patients,” he said.