EP104: The Dr Is In: SGB & PTSD

In this episode of the WPAOG podcast, we welcome COL (R) James Lynch, MD West Point Class of ’89, a retired military physician and national expert in Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB). A promising treatment for PTSD and anxiety. With over three decades of military service, including 20 years in special operations, Dr. Lynch shares his journey from Army physician to mental health innovator.

Dr. Jim Lynch is a physician and mental health advocate who established a practice in Maryland in 2021 after serving 31 years in Army medicine. Board-certified in Family and Sports Medicine, he’s treated thousands of trauma-affected patients and pioneered SGB as a powerful treatment for PTSD and anxiety. Dr. Lynch has presented internationally, published multiple peer-reviewed studies, and served as a U.S. Olympic Team physician for over a decade. He continues to champion access to effective trauma care for veterans, civilians, and underserved populations globally.

Listeners will gain insight into how SGB works to reset the fight-or-flight system, its remarkable results among veterans, and why traditional PTSD treatments often fall short. Dr. Lynch also discusses the broader applications of SGB, including for survivors of sexual trauma, and how he’s taking this treatment global, reaching communities in crisis like Ukraine.

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Episode Timestamps:

(00:32) What is Stella Ganglion Blocks (SGB)

(06:43) Discovery and Evolution of SGB for PTSD

(12:27) Dr. Lynch's Journey into Medicine

(16:56) Advice for PTSD and Anxiety Sufferers

(23:06) Challenges and Accessibility of SGB

(29:20) Dr. Lynch's Humanitarian Efforts

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Links:

Connect with Dr. James

Learn more about SGB

Learn more about WPAOG’s Veteran Services for West Point grads:

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