Join Caregiver Action Network’s Upcoming Webinar
Take Control of Pain: A Veteran and Caregiver Perspective
September 28, 2026 at 1 p.m. ET
Veterans face unique challenges in navigating pain treatment. With higher rates of pain and rising opioid overdose deaths among veteran communities, expanding access to safe, effective non-opioid treatment options is critical.
Join the Families, Addiction & Mental Health Network for a discussion about improving pain care for veteran communities. Veterans, caregivers, and policy leaders will share firsthand experiences navigating acute pain treatment, including the critical role caregivers play in supporting loved ones and coordinating care. The webinar will explore barriers to innovations in pain treatment options within the VA system and provide practical information and resources to help support veterans, caregivers, and advocates.
What You Will Learn
Meet the Hosts
Kyleanne Hunter | Chief Executive Officer, IAVA
Dr. Kyleanne Hunter is CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and a dedicated and lifelong servant leader. In this role, she is responsible for strategic direction of IAVA, ensuring that the post-9/11 generation of veterans continues to have a voice in the most pressing issues of our day. A Marine Corps veteran of the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan, she has been dedicated to inspiring all veterans to ascend to their potential, and ensuring that the policies and practices are there to allow them to do so.
Prior to coming to IAVA, Ky was the lead of the Women, Peace, and Security Initiative, part of the RAND National Security Research Division and a senior political scientist at RAND. She also holds faculty affiliations as a professor of policy analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy and an affiliated professor of political science at Oregon State University, among many other notable accomplishments.
Dakota Heath | Programs & Policy Associate
Dakota Heath is a policy professional with a background in political science, public policy, and advocacy. He served as the first John Schall Policy & Programs Fellow at the Caregiver Action Network (CAN), where he continues to work to advance policies that support family caregivers across the nation. Dakota is also a caregiver for his partner, who lives with gastroparesis. This firsthand experience gives him a deep, personal understanding of the challenges caregivers face, from navigating complex healthcare systems to balancing work and caregiving responsibilities.
Amera Bilal | Vice President of Programs & Policy, Caregiver Action Network
With over 20 years of experience designing programs at the intersection of aging, caregiving, and equity, Amera brings a powerful vision for centering caregiver voices in systems change. From leading Alzheimer’s initiatives in Prince George’s County to championing inclusive program design for historically marginalized communities, her leadership strengthens our ability to serve caregivers nationwide.
Made possible with support from Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
About Families, Addiction & Mental Health Network:
Caregiver Action Network’s Families, Addiction & Mental Health Network (FAM) is committed to helping and supporting caregivers, families, and patients navigate specialized supports and resources. FAM recognizes the diversity and specialized support caregivers need to navigate substance use disorders and mental health care. FAM has the resources and support to help caregivers address their loved one’s health needs while supporting their own health as well.
About Caregiver Action Network (CAN):
Caregiver Action Network (CAN) is the nation’s leading nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life for the more than 63 million family caregivers across the nation. From parents of children with complex health needs to spouses, friends, and adult children caring for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities, or Alzheimer’s, CAN supports the full spectrum of caregiving families. Through free education, peer support, and resources, CAN empowers caregivers nationwide to provide care with strength, resilience, and hope.
