June 13, 2025 – WorkCompWire
Anaheim, CA – More first responders die from suicide than from physical injuries in the line of duty. In response to this ever-increasing crises—and the rising demand for specialized care for injured workers and first responders —the Institutes of Health (IOH), a leader in evidence-based treatment for the epidemics of chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and related substance use disorders, proudly announces the opening of its newest medical center in Anaheim, California.
This expansion marks a bold step forward in addressing the overlapping crises of trauma, brain injury, chronic pain, and substance use disorders—conditions that are especially prevalent among California’s frontline professionals and injured workers. IOH’s Anaheim clinic will serve as a specialized hub for those who have suffered life-altering physical and psychological injuries in the line of duty—firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMTs, military veterans, and essential workers navigating the complex California Workers’ Compensation system.
“The Anaheim clinic is not just another facility—it’s a lifeline,” said Scott Strickland, Chief Operating Officer at IOH. “As we work with increasing numbers of municipalities, public agencies and the private sector, our focus is on expanding access to care that restores dignity, functionality, and long-term resilience to those who need it most.”
Patients will receive treatment using IOH’s nationally recognized transdisciplinary biopsychosocial model of care—an integrative framework that brings together neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, psychiatry, physical therapy, clinical psychology, occupational therapy, pain management and allied restorative therapies in real-time collaboration. This model, grounded in evidence and decades of field experience, addresses the full spectrum of a patient’s biological, psychological, and social needs. It has consistently produced superior outcomes in improving recovery and return-to-work success.
“Not all job-related injuries are visible or linear,” said Dr. Tomer Anbar, Founder and CEO of Institutes of Health. “Traditional care often fails to recognize the hidden toll of PTSD or post-concussive symptoms that can sabotage a person’s recovery. By treating the whole person, we’re able to break cycles of despair and deliver lasting results.”
Opening the Anaheim location during PTSD Awareness Month is a deliberate call to action. Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and other frontline professionals frequently endure repeated exposure to traumatic events. Yet many suffer in silence, and far too many are lost to suicide—clear evidence of a national crisis that demands a more coordinated and compassionate response.
The clinic will also serve as a training ground for future clinicians and a hub for community partnerships, advancing IOH’s mission of making advanced treatment more accessible. With dedicated programs for complex PTSD, brain injury, chronic pain, and return-to-work readiness, the Anaheim site fills a critical gap left by fragmented, one-size-fits-all healthcare models.
“Our mission is to restore lives, not just manage symptoms,” added Dr. Anbar. “This is about honoring the sacrifices of those who serve and ensuring they have access to world-class care that truly works.”
Source: IOH