Exploring Recovery and Mental Health with Dr. Heidi Bausch Ryan
- S3E22
- 34:33
- August 11th 2025
Dr. Heidi Bausch Ryan — Clinical Psychologist & Director, Chair of the Mental Health and Addiction Philanthropic Advisory Council, University of Minnesota
In this episode, Major John Donovan sits down with Dr. Heidi Bausch Ryan to explore the changing landscape of recovery for veterans, service members, and their families. Drawing from her leadership at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Ryan discusses cutting-edge research in addiction neuroscience, the growing emphasis on integrated care for mental health and substance use disorders, and how philanthropy fuels innovation in treatment.
Key Topics Covered
- The mission and work of the Mental Health and Addiction Philanthropic Advisory Council
- Breakthroughs in brain imaging and addiction neuroscience
- Why mental health and addiction must be treated together
- How strategic funding accelerates progress in research and care
- The staggering economic and human toll of substance use disorder in the U.S.
- Shifting toward whole-person, integrated care for co-occurring disorders
- Building “HERO” recovery capital: Hope, Efficacy, Resilience, and Optimism
- The power of community, mentorship, and never facing recovery alone
Resources & Links
- University of Minnesota’s Medical Discovery Team on Addiction
- Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain
Veterans 4 Recovery
All Things Recovery! Join your host, Maj. (Retired) John Donovan, a noted author, lecturer and person in long-term recovery from substance use disorder, as he and his guests will breakdown current trending topics and research along with all things related to increasing recovery resilience and capital within our Veteran and service-member communities.
Major John Donovan is the co-founder of the Recovery Community Network (RCN) in St. Cloud, Minnesota, an organization devoted to serving and advocating for the recovery community of Central Minnesota. John is a person in long-term recovery with over 45 years of recovery. He is a highly decorated 27-year veteran of the Armed Forces and has deployed three times in the service of our nation since 9-11. He holds an associate’s and bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud State University and a master’s degree from Boston University. John serves on several recovery related boards and he is an active and energetic advocate for recovery. He is a popular speaker and workshop facilitator and he contributes monthly to a recovery blog. John’s book, “A Soldier’s Recovery Journey”, was published in April of 2021 and he was a contributing author to Hazelden's veterans' daily meditation book entitled "Leave No One Behind."