We are pleased to welcome Dr. James Lynch to the R.T. Weatherman Foundation team. Dr. Lynch is a U.S. physician with 31 years of service in Army medicine. He was among the early pioneers in applying Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety-related conditions. He has joined the Foundation as the Chief Medical Officer for SGB.
"Mental health is a combat effectiveness issue. In a prolonged war, psychological injury affects readiness, decision-making, unit cohesion, retention, and ultimately the ability of a force to keep fighting. Our objective is not simply to care for veterans after they come home; it is to build a continuum of support for active defenders, veterans, and families of the fallen that preserves human capability throughout the entire cycle of war. James brings critical expertise to that effort as we work to build interventions that are evidence-based, operationally relevant, and scalable across the force," said Dr. Meaghan Mobbs, President of the R.T. Weatherman Foundation.
Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) is a procedure in which a long-acting local anesthetic is injected into the neck under ultrasound guidance. The injection is administered near a nerve involved in regulating the body’s “fight-or-flight” response through the sympathetic nervous system.
This nerve pathway, known as the cervical sympathetic chain, connects the brain to the rest of the body, carrying signals in both directions. Temporarily blocking this pathway may allow brain regions involved in the “fight-or-flight” response to reset. Research suggests that this can provide sustained relief from symptoms of anxiety.
Since 2011, Dr. James Lynch has performed thousands of SGB procedures, published scientific research on the technique, and presented his work at numerous international forums in Germany, Australia, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Ukraine.
“Over fifteen years of research, I have seen how this method can change the lives of people who have experienced trauma. The scale of traumatic experience in Ukraine convinced me that this is where this kind of support is needed most. Just a year ago, hardly anyone here had heard of this method. Today, we are training anesthesiologists across different parts of Ukraine to perform SGB based on our years of research and clinical experience. This is the best evidence that the program is truly growing, and I am proud to be part of it,” said Dr. James Lynch.
Peer-reviewed research has shown that SGB can meaningfully and durably reduce chronic anxiety linked to PTSD. The procedure takes under 15 minutes, with initial effects often felt within 30. The technique has been used since the 1920s, primarily for pain management.
Since 2011, Dr. Lynch has applied SGB extensively in the field of brain health, including for anxiety, post-traumatic symptoms, and the effects of traumatic brain injury and concussion.
In his new role, Dr. Lynch will advise the Foundation’s team on clinical matters, contribute to the development of trauma treatment protocols, and continue training Ukrainian doctors in the SGB technique, work he began well before his formal appointment.
This appointment marks the formal next step in a partnership the Foundation has been building with Dr. Lynch’s clinic supporting veterans and service members recovering from war-related injuries. It comes as the Foundation continues to expand its Mind programs, which provide psychological support and reintegration assistance to Ukrainians and international individuals affected while defending Ukraine.
