Part of the 15 for 15 Challenge Partner Spotlight Series
Recorded: Dec 19, 2025
As PsychArmor marks the 10-year anniversary of 15 Things Veterans Want You to Know, the organization is spotlighting the partners, leaders, and visionaries who brought this transformative training to life and continue to carry it forward.
In this Partner Spotlight, PsychArmor’s Jamie Regalia, sits down with Tonya Schram, a sales executive at Humana who has spent nearly two decades supporting health and wellness initiatives nationwide. Together, they discuss how culturally competent training is shaping Veteran experiences in healthcare, advancing health equity, and helping build more Veteran Ready communities.
Partnering to Better Serve Veterans
What drew Humana to partner with PsychArmor, and why did 15 Things Veterans Want You to Know resonate as a meaningful resource?
Tonya Schram:
“Humana’s decision to partner with PsychArmor was really driven by our commitment to better serve Veterans and military-connected individuals and families. 15 Things Veterans Want You to Know resonated with us because it provides authentic insight directly from the Veteran community.
"The research PsychArmor put into this training is phenomenal, and it’s become a foundational tool for many of our teams across the organization. We partnered with PsychArmor to train a subset of our clinicians and administrative staff in 23 markets within our CenterWell and Conviva clinics.
"We also shared the training with members of our Salute employee network, our Veteran advocates across the country, and our customer service teams who support Veterans enrolled in our Honor plans. This training has helped associates better understand the unique experiences, values, and perspectives of Veterans—so we can foster deeper empathy and deliver more personalized, respectful care across Humana.”
How Cultural Competency Shows Up in Care
From Humana’s perspective, how does culturally competent training shape the experience of Veterans navigating healthcare systems? What changes stood out to you in how your teams engage, communicate, or build trust with Veterans once training like 15 Things Veterans Want You to Know became part of the learning journey?
Tonya Schram:
“Culturally competent training is essential to shaping a positive healthcare experience for Veterans. When providers, clinicians, and staff understand military culture, language, and the challenges Veterans face, it truly transforms how they engage with patients.
"We’ve seen meaningful changes across our teams. Staff feel more confident in their interactions, and trust is established more quickly. Veterans feel genuinely seen and heard because they’re being understood.
"We also know that when Veterans trust their providers, they’re more likely to follow care plans, attend appointments, and take medications as prescribed. All of that contributes to better health outcomes. This kind of training ensures Veterans don’t feel like just another patient, but like a valued individual whose service is recognized and respected.”
Advancing Health Equity Through Education
Why is it important for Humana to invest in culturally informed education for historically underserved Veteran populations? What does it mean for Humana to help make these resources accessible beyond your own organization and into the broader healthcare ecosystem?
Tonya Schram:
"Supporting Veteran cultural competency education aligns directly with our commitment to advancing health equity. Veterans often face unique barriers when accessing care, and education is a critical tool for bridging those gaps.
"Training like 15 Things Veterans Want You to Know empowers healthcare professionals to identify and address disparities, which leads to more equitable outcomes. Extending these resources beyond Humana amplifies that impact. When organizations share best practices and knowledge across the healthcare ecosystem, we collectively create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all Veterans."
Looking Ahead Through Partnership
What role will collaborations like this play in addressing gaps for Veteran and military-connected populations?
Tonya Schram:
"Partnerships like the one we have with PsychArmor will continue to play a vital role in promoting cultural competency and equitable care. PsychArmor is a leader in military cultural awareness, and Humana is proud to partner with an organization that delivers such impactful education.
"As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, ongoing education and collaboration are essential. These partnerships help us identify service gaps, inform policy and practice, and drive system-wide improvements. By continuing to work together, we can ensure Veterans receive the understanding, respect, and care they deserve to achieve equitable health outcomes."
Creating Veteran Ready Communities Starts With People
If you could leave our audience with one message about why all of us play a role in creating Veteran Ready communities, what would it be?
Tonya Schram:
“Creating Veteran Ready communities is a shared responsibility. Every interaction matters—whether you’re a healthcare provider, a business leader, or even a friendly neighbor.
"By seeking to understand and honor the experiences of Veterans, we can help build environments where they feel welcomed and supported. Together, we can ensure Veterans not only receive the care they need, but also the appreciation and respect they have truly earned.”
A Partnership Built on Trust and Equity
Humana’s partnership with PsychArmor demonstrates how culturally informed education can strengthen trust at every point of the healthcare journey. By investing in Veteran cultural competency across clinical teams, customer service staff, employee networks, and advocates nationwide, Humana is helping ensure Veterans feel understood, respected, and supported—not just as patients, but as people.
This conversation with Tonya Schram highlights why training like 15 Things Veterans Want You to Know is so central to PsychArmor’s mission. When individuals and organizations understand military culture, they are better equipped to build empathy, establish trust, and remove barriers to care. At scale, that understanding translates into more equitable health outcomes and more Veteran Ready communities.
Jamie Regalia:
“Tonya, thank you for your leadership and for Humana’s continued partnership with PsychArmor. Your support helps ensure these resources remain free, accessible, and impactful for those supporting Veterans and their families.”
How You Can Support the Next Chapter of 15 Things Veterans Want You to Know
Join the 15 for 15 Challenge
Conversations like this one highlight the real momentum behind community-based prevention. When people gain the cultural understanding they need, they feel confident stepping in, speaking up, and standing alongside Veterans. The Humana partnership shows what becomes possible when culturally informed training reaches the people and the places where it is needed most.
As we honor the 10-year legacy of this flagship course, we invite you to join us in the 15 for 15 Challenge.
You can make an immediate impact by:
• Watching the course
• Sharing it with your network
• Donating to keep this training free for individual learners
Together, we can ensure the next decade of learners and the communities they touch are even better prepared to support our nation’s Veterans and their families.
👉 Join the challenge and give today: https://giving.psycharmor.org/page/FUNQSPZZJAQ