UCLA Operation Mend

UCLA Operation Mend Operation Mend provides advanced surgical and medical treatment for post-9/11 era service members

Operation Mend was established in 2007 as a partnership between UCLA Health and the United States military. The program is available at absolutely no cost to the veterans or service member. Operation Mend was envisioned by Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Board and Executive Committee member Ronald A. Katz after a visit to Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), a leading burn and rehabilitation center in San Antonio, Texas, where he and his wife Maddie provided a lead gift to build a new 42-unit Fisher House. This visit inspired the Katz family to secure a commitment from UCLA to partner with BAMC on Operation Mend. “I think it is the private sector’s duty to stand up … and do something extra to help,” said Katz. “I asked UCLA Health if there was a way that we could offer our services and give these kids and their families not only the best the Army has to offer, but the best the country has to offer.” The program is open to members from all service branches. All medical care, travel and accommodations are provided AT NO COST to Operation Mend participants and their families.

As the year comes to a close, we’re reminded that generosity isn’t only about giving, it’s about recognizing those who g...
12/29/2025

As the year comes to a close, we’re reminded that generosity isn’t only about giving, it’s about recognizing those who give so much of themselves. 💙

Veterans, caregivers, and families carry stories of strength, service, and recovery that continue long after the holidays. 🎖️

This season, let’s lift them up with the kind of support and connection that lasts all year, because healing doesn’t happen alone, and it doesn’t stop at the calendar. ✨

UCLA Health

As we celebrate this holiday season, we pause with deep gratitude for the strength of our Veterans, the devotion of thei...
12/25/2025

As we celebrate this holiday season, we pause with deep gratitude for the strength of our Veterans, the devotion of their caregivers, and the compassion of every person who walks beside them.

From all of us at Operation Mend, thank you for being part of a community that makes healing possible, together.

Wishing you peace, connection, and hope this holiday season. 💙✨

Last month, we were honored to be the beneficiary of a special evening hosted by Friends of Operation Mend, a group that...
12/22/2025

Last month, we were honored to be the beneficiary of a special evening hosted by Friends of Operation Mend, a group that comes together each year to support post-9/11 Veterans and their families. 🇺🇸

This fundraiser was made possible by Gary Jacobs, founder of Friends of Operation Mend, whose belief in our mission sparked the creation of this group more than 11 years ago. Gary’s leadership, generosity, and unwavering commitment have helped sustain critical healing programs year after year, turning belief into lasting impact. 🎖️

We are deeply grateful to Friends of Operation Mend and everyone who showed up to support our Veterans. 💙

UCLA Health

12/19/2025

Read the article Democracy is a verb – Democratic citizenship in action .. Read Democracy is a verb – Democratic citizenship in action

Every wreath placed is a promise kept. 🎄 On , we honor those who gave their all, the Warriors, the caregivers, and the ...
12/19/2025

Every wreath placed is a promise kept. 🎄

On , we honor those who gave their all, the Warriors, the caregivers, and the families, and remember their stories with gratitude.

Thank you to the volunteers, organizations, and communities who gather, lay wreaths, and pause with reverence. May each wreath placed reflect not just a moment of remembrance, but a continuing commitment to the heroes, the hearts, and the healing. 🎗️

We're still reminiscing about our unforgettable evening at P.J. Clarke's in New York last month. 🇺🇸Supporters of Operati...
12/18/2025

We're still reminiscing about our unforgettable evening at P.J. Clarke's in New York last month. 🇺🇸

Supporters of Operation Mend, Veterans and their families, and caregivers came together to honor service and celebrate the power of community. The night included special recognition of General Walter E. Piatt, CEO of the Wounded Warrior Project, whose lifelong commitment to Veterans and their families continues to inspire all of us.

Earlier this year, General Piatt spent time with the Operation Mend team, learning more about our work and the healing journeys we support. His genuine warmth, curiosity, and shared dedication to post-9/11 Veterans made this recognition especially meaningful. 🎖️

We’re deeply grateful to the team at PJ Clarke’s for welcoming us with open arms, for hosting this special evening year after year, and making this all possible. It’s moments like these that remind us how powerful it is when community comes together in support of healing. 💙

UCLA Health

Since 1636, the National Guard has stood at the crossroads of service, answering the call at home and abroad. From natur...
12/13/2025

Since 1636, the National Guard has stood at the crossroads of service, answering the call at home and abroad. From natural disasters to overseas deployments, Guard members show up where they're needed most. 🎖️

At Operation Mend, we’re proud to serve National Guard members and their loved ones, not just in moments of crisis, but long after. Because healing doesn’t end when service does. 💙

UCLA Health

A visit we make every year and one that moves us every time. 🇺🇸While in NYC for Veterans Day, our Operation Mend Veteran...
12/04/2025

A visit we make every year and one that moves us every time. 🇺🇸

While in NYC for Veterans Day, our Operation Mend Veterans, doctors, and families returned to the September 11 Memorial & Museum. Together, we honored the lives lost, reflected on the service and sacrifice that followed, and stood shoulder to shoulder in a space that always brings us back to the heart of our mission. 💙

UCLA Health

Today we honor the International Day of Persons with Disabilities — a day to recognize the strength, resilience, and con...
12/03/2025

Today we honor the International Day of Persons with Disabilities — a day to recognize the strength, resilience, and contributions of people of all abilities. ♿️

At Operation Mend, we’re proud to serve Veterans and caregivers living with both visible and invisible wounds. Your courage inspires our mission every day.

Together, we move toward a more inclusive world, one that sees ability, honors service, and fosters healing for all. 💙

UCLA Health

It feels like just last week at Mercury Lounge in NYC, where the room was alive with purpose. 🇺🇸✨From the stage to the b...
12/02/2025

It feels like just last week at Mercury Lounge in NYC, where the room was alive with purpose. 🇺🇸✨
From the stage to the back row, every note and every cheer honored the Veterans, caregivers, and families we proudly serve through Operation Mend.

We’re deeply grateful to our friends at Blue Élan Records and the incredible team at Mercury Lounge for opening their doors, their hearts, and their platform to support our Warriors and their loved ones. Learn more and explore the albums that help power this mission at blueelan.com.

Every lyric, every gathering, every moment of support moves this mission forward. Thank you. 💙

UCLA Health

Even when the world feels uncertain, the strength of our Veterans and caregivers continues to inspire. 💙As the season br...
11/26/2025

Even when the world feels uncertain, the strength of our Veterans and caregivers continues to inspire. 💙

As the season brings moments of reflection and gratitude, we’re thinking of all who carry that strength every day.

Swipe for trusted national resources to support your journey, because you’re not alone. We’re here with you, now and always. 🤝💛

Today, we proudly marched in the NYC Veterans Day Parade. 🇺🇸For more than a decade, Operation Mend has walked down Fifth...
11/11/2025

Today, we proudly marched in the NYC Veterans Day Parade. 🇺🇸

For more than a decade, Operation Mend has walked down Fifth Avenue beside our Veterans and caregivers, and every year we are reminded of the strength that comes from community and the power of healing together.

The energy, pride, and unity we felt today embody our mission to bring hope and healing to every Veteran and family we serve. 💙

📸:

UCLA Health

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924 Westwood Boulevard, Ste 400
Los Angeles, CA
90095

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+13102672110

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Our Story

Established in 2007, Operation Mend is a pioneering program. It combines the best of the military's resources with the skills of UCLA Health System for a comprehensive and collaborative approach to healing United States military personnel wounded and disfigured in Iraq and Afghanistan. Envisioned by Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Board and Executive Committee member Ronald A. Katz and his wife, Maddie, Operation Mend's original goal was to give returning service members with severe facial injuries access to the Army's best burn center and the nation's best plastic and reconstructive surgeons. In a partnership with Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), a leading burn and rehabilitation center in San Antonio, Texas, the V.A. Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, and UCLA Health System, Operation Mend started with facial reconstruction. Official page of UCLA Operation Mend.