Mary Jo Pugh, PhD, RN, a University of Utah epidemiology professor, recently earned national recognition with an Outstanding Research Accomplishment Award from the 2025 Military Health System Research Symposium. Reported on Monday, August 18 by the University, she is one of only two investigators nationwide to receive this honor. Pugh was celebrated for her pioneering work uncovering the long-term consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in veterans.

Pugh leads critical research for the Department of Defense and VA, directing the Data and Biostatistics Core for LIMBIC-CENC, the Long-Term Impact of Military-Relevant Brain Injury Consortium – Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (www.limbic-cenc.org/). Her work has revealed previously unknown connections between TBI and conditions like dementia, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. By integrating VA and DoD health data, Pugh’s research helps identify veterans at highest risk for complications, paving the way for preemptive interventions and improved care for those who served.