Michael Orban

Michael Orban is a Vietnam combat veteran, keynote speaker, and author known for his work in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) education and veteran mental health advocacy. Orban, drafted during the Vietnam War, returned to Wisconsin after his service with severe PTSD, though a formal diagnosis was not available to him at the time. His experiences as an infantry soldier, including combat and its aftermath, led to feelings of detachment, guilt, flashbacks, and thoughts of suicide. Although he had planned to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison using the GI Bill, PTSD disrupted his educational aspirations.

In search of healing, Orban spent years in Africa, serving in the Peace Corps and later on USAID projects. Despite his time abroad, the psychological effects of war persisted. Upon returning to the United States, Orban received a PTSD diagnosis and entered inpatient treatment at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center. He has since focused on supporting others affected by PTSD, drawing on his personal journey to inform his outreach and public speaking.

Orban authored the book "Souled Out: A Memoir of War and Inner Peace," which details his experiences from Vietnam to recovery, examining the impact of war on personal values, the challenges of psychological isolation, and the process of healing. As a speaker, Orban addresses topics such as war trauma, moral injury, self-forgiveness, and psychological transformation after combat.

His work includes developing graphic models on PTSD, participating in the Warrior Partnership at Medical College of Wisconsin, contributing to the Incarcerated Veterans Project, and providing VA peer counseling. Orban also co-founded the Warrior Partnership, an initiative connecting medical students with veterans experiencing war-related trauma. He received an honorary degree from Medical College of Wisconsin, where he was the first patient in the United States diagnosed with the filarial disease Acanthocheilonema perstans from a tsetse fly bite. Through the Orban Foundation for Veterans and his ongoing outreach, Orban works to increase understanding of PTSD and support veterans and their families.