Integrity: Dr. Kathy Platoni | Illuminated Women Veterans

Описание: Dr. Kathy Platoni | #Integrity


Kathy Platoni, Psy.D. has been a practicing clinical psychologist for more than 38 years and maintains her private practice in Centerville, Ohio. In service of her country and as an Army clinical psychologist, she has deployed on four occasions in time of war. Dr. Platoni served as commander of the 1972nd Medical Detachment (Combat Stress Control) at Guantanamo Bay Cuba from 2003-2004, where combat stress control became a critical element of the Joint Task Force mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in the Global War on Terrorism.


Having volunteered to return to active duty within weeks of her redeployment from Joint Task Force-GTMO, Dr. Platoni deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, holding the position of Deputy Commander of Clinical Services for the 55th Medical Company (CSC) in Baghdad and seven subsequent locations, finally as Officer in Charge of Team Ar Ramadi, situated the seat of the insurgency and during times of intensive combat.


At the invitation of the 3rd Brigade Commander, 3rd Infantry Division upon the conclusion of her tour of duty in the wartime theater, Dr. Platoni reported back to Fort Benning, Georgia for an additional six-month mission in order to provide for the reintegration services of the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment due to elevated numbers of psychological casualties among combat arms soldiers.


Dr. Platoni was last deployed to the combat theater of Afghanistan from 2009 through late 2010 with the 467th Medical Detachment (Combat Stress Control) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, serving as Clinical Advisor for the medical detachment and Officer in Charge of Team Wilson, Kandahar Province, and Camp Phoenix in Kabul, Afghanistan. She was assigned to the 1493rd Medical Detachment (CSC) in Cary, North Carolina until the time of her retirement.


As a survivor of the tragic Ft. Hood Massacre in November of 2009, she is an ardent activist for reconsideration of this shooting incident as an act of terrorism to assure that the wounded and the families of the deceased are awarded long overdue benefits and was very instrumental in the awarding of the Purple Heart Medal to the Fort Hood wounded and to the families of those who lost their lives on that tragic day.


Dr. Platoni is a graduate of the School of Professional Psychology of Nova University (now Nova Southeastern University) in Davie, Florida. Subsequent to the conclusion of her doctoral studies under the auspices of the United States Army’s Health Professionals Scholarship Program, she completed her internship on active duty Army status at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas in 1984.


Dr. Platoni maintains an appointment as Assistant Clinical Professor with the School of Professional Psychology, Wright State University. She is a skilled hypnotherapist and possesses expertise in the sub-specialty areas of behavioral medicine and the treatment of chronic pain and chronic, debilitating, and terminal illnesses. Due to her father’s exposure to radiation during World War II, she was born with congenital defects that have required extensive maxillofacial (bone) reconstructive and bone grafting procedures.

She currently serves as the Dayton SWAT psychologist and Mental Health Advisor to the Dayton Hostage Negotiation Team. While you can learn more about her experiences, publications, and more on her website, www.drplatoni.com, Dr. Platoni is more than someone who was my OIC in FOB Ar Ramadi during the Iraq War. She initially stood alone facing anti-Semitic bigotry from our Command in Baghdad’s Green Zone until she became our OIC, which is where we started comparing notes and began a case against the Command and their white supremacist attacks on Soldiers and Iraqi civilians. The case, unfortunately, didn’t move forward and our Command had threatened me with Mutiny. Dr. Platoni, then a Lieutenant Colonel, was one of few people who stood beside me as we fought back against toxic leadership.

On day 24, I chose “Integrity” to describe Dr. Platoni. While she sure has had her share of adventures and misadventures, she is someone I will always see as having the intestinal fortitude to stand up for what’s right no matter what the odds are and no matter how difficult the climb. When you meet people like her, you hold onto that friendship forever. While our moments in Iraq were some of our darkest nights, her integrity and commitment to justice served as a torch that lit our way home. May we all be like Dr. Platoni and stand up for what’s right and to allow dedication to uncovering the truth to override any fears that may obscure our path.