Elisa V. Borah, MSW, PhD, is a research professor at the School of Social Work and the director of the Institute for Military and Veteran Family Wellness and the Moritz Center for Societal Impact.

Borah is funded by the Department of Defense for multiple studies to design, evaluate, and implement effective treatments and supportive programs for military members, veterans, spouses, and their families. Current research efforts include examining the impact of peer and social support for military and veteran spouses, self-care practices among military spouses, and spouses’ transition needs after military service. Borah also works with VA investigators to improve engagement of concerned significant others in veteran suicide prevention practices and research. In 2015, Borah launched the Veteran Spouse Network (VSN), funded through an Engagement Award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). The VSN offers nationwide and OCONUS program support for the military and veteran community and evaluates how peer support can improve the quality of life and mental health of veterans and veteran spouses. Borah chairs the bi-annual Military Social Work conference at The University of Texas at Austin. She previously served as director of research at the Ft. Hood site of the STRONG STAR PTSD Research Consortium, a Department of Defense consortium at UT Health San Antonio.