About Us
The Story of Recognize the Sacrifice:
In late 2008, Kate was sitting behind Jayna in a base gymnasium in Vilseck, Germany, waiting for soldiers to return from a 15-month tour in Iraq. Both nurses, they struck up a conversation about the increasing prevalence of blast injuries and subsequent concussions and traumatic brain injuries sustained by Veterans. Since this was of interest to them, both personally and professionally, they discussed how they could make a difference. Armed with little more than an unreliable internet connection and military-wife determination and pride, Jayna & Kate created the organization, Recognize the Sacrifice.
Jayna Moceri Brooks, PhD, RN, Co-founder, Director:
Native of the Pacific Northwest, Jayna graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Seattle Pacific University and then went on to earn a Master of Nursing degree from the University of Washington Tacoma (2007) and PhD from Duquesne University (2022). Her dissertation research focused on suicidal behaviors among Post-9/11 Army Combat Veterans with a TBI.
In addition to working as an Emergency and Trauma nurse for over 17 years, she has experience volunteering and working on military installations within the United States and abroad. Jayna is currently a post-doctoral fellow continuing her work in military suicide prevention research.
She was moved to co-found Recognize the Sacrifice in January 2009 after her husband sustained a TBI while on a 15 month deployment to Iraq (2007-2008). Jayna's goal in co-founding the organization is to support service members and their families through the complicated Purple Heart Award application process and to advocate for them to receive medical care, rehabilitation, and official recognition of their combat injury.
Kate Rocklein, PhD, DNP, RN, Co-founder:
Native of Apopka, Florida, Kate graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, and has worked primarily in Emergency and Trauma settings, spending several years in civilian service for the Department of the Army. She later earned a Master of Science in Nursing degree from Loyola University New Orleans and PhD from Rush University, with specific research focus on Traumatic Brain Injuries (namely mild TBI and injuries sustained from blast exposure in Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom). Kate started this research in 2007, and independently developed data sets and extrapolated potential clinical findings prior to the release of the DoD's large-scale studies in 2009. She has experience volunteering and working on military installations abroad and within the United States.
In late 2008, Kate was sitting behind Jayna in a base gymnasium in Vilseck, Germany, waiting for soldiers to return from a 15-month tour in Iraq. Both nurses, they struck up a conversation about the increasing prevalence of blast injuries and subsequent concussions and traumatic brain injuries sustained by Veterans. Since this was of interest to them, both personally and professionally, they discussed how they could make a difference. Armed with little more than an unreliable internet connection and military-wife determination and pride, Jayna & Kate created the organization, Recognize the Sacrifice.
Jayna Moceri Brooks, PhD, RN, Co-founder, Director:
Native of the Pacific Northwest, Jayna graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Seattle Pacific University and then went on to earn a Master of Nursing degree from the University of Washington Tacoma (2007) and PhD from Duquesne University (2022). Her dissertation research focused on suicidal behaviors among Post-9/11 Army Combat Veterans with a TBI.
In addition to working as an Emergency and Trauma nurse for over 17 years, she has experience volunteering and working on military installations within the United States and abroad. Jayna is currently a post-doctoral fellow continuing her work in military suicide prevention research.
She was moved to co-found Recognize the Sacrifice in January 2009 after her husband sustained a TBI while on a 15 month deployment to Iraq (2007-2008). Jayna's goal in co-founding the organization is to support service members and their families through the complicated Purple Heart Award application process and to advocate for them to receive medical care, rehabilitation, and official recognition of their combat injury.
Kate Rocklein, PhD, DNP, RN, Co-founder:
Native of Apopka, Florida, Kate graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, and has worked primarily in Emergency and Trauma settings, spending several years in civilian service for the Department of the Army. She later earned a Master of Science in Nursing degree from Loyola University New Orleans and PhD from Rush University, with specific research focus on Traumatic Brain Injuries (namely mild TBI and injuries sustained from blast exposure in Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom). Kate started this research in 2007, and independently developed data sets and extrapolated potential clinical findings prior to the release of the DoD's large-scale studies in 2009. She has experience volunteering and working on military installations abroad and within the United States.
