Jason A. “Jay” Zimmerman, B.A., CPSC, CRE, CPRP
Jay is a native of Appalachia, a US Army Combat Veteran, serving as a Combat Medic with the 1st /505th Parachute Infantry Brigade. He is a husband and father to 2 girls 18 and 16 . He has served for the last decade plus as a Peer in the VA Healthcare System. Jay is a nationally respected speaker regarding improving understanding of Veteran’s experiences and care needs. Over the years, Jay has had the opportunity to serve in various roles assisting in the evolution of Peer Services serving on numerous VA national work groups, committees, he is a nationally published subject matter expert in the delivery of peer services, and currently serves as a Supervisory Peer Specialist with the Peer Support Outreach Center – Veterans Crisis Line. He has served several details to VA Central Office – Suicide Prevention Office, filling the role of the Lethal Means Reduction Veteran SME. Most recently Jay served as a member of the Presidential workgroup PREVENTS as a SME on both Lethal Means as well as community engagement and partnerships.