USC CIR – News

Virtual teaching tool schools students in helping veterans

by Claudia Bustamante

Mike Baker sits on a therapist’s couch—in blue jeans and a buttoned-down shirt, nervously clutching his hands.

Baker was deployed to Afghanistan with the National Guard a year ago and is now having trouble at home. His wife made him get help, but talking is the last thing on Baker’s mind.

“I know this is your job to ask me a bunch of questions, but let me ask you something,” he said. “Did you ever serve?”

Luckily, there is no wrong answer for the behavioral health therapist or social work student. Mike Baker does not exist. He is a virtual avatar […]

CIR director honored at Los Angeles Dodgers game

Anthony Hassan’s resume keeps getting longer. He is:

Director of the Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans & Military Families
Clinical Associate Professor at the USC School of Social Work
Chair of the Military Social Work program
Major, U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
And thanks to the Boys in Blue, he is also a Los Angeles Dodgers Veteran of the Game.

On Friday, Sept. 13, during a game against the San Francisco Giants, Hassan was honored for his many years of service, including providing combat stress support during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Thanks to this recognition by the Boys in Blue, the valuable work CIR does was […]