July/August 2012
Signature Hiring Event Imaging Advances Collaborative Problem Solving Recovery Through Art Features
A Bittersweet Coincidence of Timing 4 Gulf War Veteran George Irish has overcome a multitude of challenges A Clearer Picture of Disease 8 Imaging advances improve health care for Veterans 12 Collaborating to Tackle Government’s Challenges 10 New leadership program aims to develop the senior executive corps Transforming Toward Recovery 12 Veterans showcase their art at New York’s famed MoMA Honoring a Lost Life Through Serving Veterans 14 Charity carries out the wishes of an employee gone too soon Made for Veterans by Veterans 16 Fargo VA’s handcrafted Honor Tables bring comfort to grieving families 150 Years of African American Military Service 18 14 Celebrating the law that authorized official enlistment in the armed forces Not Just Another Job Fair 20 VA hosts its biggest-ever hiring event in Detroit Restoring Independence and Mobility 23 A paralyzed woman is able to move a robotic arm with her thoughts
Departments
3 Memorial Day 33 Have You Heard 23 26 Around Headquarters 36 Honors 30 Introducing 39 Heroes 31 Medical Advances 40 IT Awareness
VAnguard VA’s Employee Magazine July/August 2012 Vol. LVIII, No. 4
Editor: Lisa Gaegler On the cover Assistant Editor/Senior Writer: Gary Hicks VA for Vets volunteer Suzi Bruns waits to Photo Editor: Robert Turtil help some of the thousands of Veterans who descended on Detroit’s Cobo Center June Published by the Office of Public Affairs (80D) 26-28 to attend VA’s signature event for 2012—the National Veterans Small Business U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Conference, Hiring Fair and Open House. 810 Vermont Ave., N.W. The event aimed to help Veterans find good Washington, D.C. 20420 jobs, ease the pain of transitioning to civilian (202) 461-7427 life and open the door to benefits, all under E-mail: [email protected] one roof. More than 5,700 Veterans were www.va.gov/opa/publications/vanguard.asp interviewed for jobs during the event. photo by Robert Turtil
2 VAnguard • July/August 2012 Memorial Day Visitor Appropriately enough, given the city of Baltimore’s historic association with author Edgar Allan Poe,OUTLOOK aFeedback raven landed on a headstone at the Baltimore National FEEDBACKCemetery on Memorial Day. Paying his respects, perhaps?
VAnguard • July/August 2012 3
chris erbe A BITTERSWEET Coincidence OF TIMING Gulf War Veteran George Irish has overcome a multitude of challenges and emerged with a new lease on life.
iming is a product of chance. It’s a collision of events that we always hope is charitable, even advantageous. But for George Irish, there was no favorable timing in his life in 1990. The TUnited States was marshalling resources to begin the Gulf War. And when his phone rang that August evening, it was his commanding officer telling him to get his bags and report to Roslyn Air National Guard Station on Long Island. By the end of that decade, everything in his life would change.
Irish enlisted in the Air Force Re- for their children to swim, and shop- the space shuttle Challenger exploded. serve at the age of 28 over the objections ping at the base exchange. Irish would “An easy day to remember,” Irish said. of his wife, Deborah. He considered it a serve nearly 18 years in the reserves. A good deal more drama surrounding positive career move, while she saw an Events in their family seemed to co- the events of that period lay ahead. absentee husband being sent off to war. incide with memorable occasions, both Shortly after Alex was born, In 1982, that was not even a remote positive and negative. Another peculiar Deborah came down with a cold that possibility, he assured her. manifestation of timing. Their third son just wouldn’t go away. Annoying at Irish was teaching physical educa- Alex was born on Super Bowl Sunday. first, and then a concern. She was an tion at a private school in Queens, N.Y., He arrived conveniently in the morn- emergency room nurse and had ample when he decided an ancillary career as a ing so George could return home that training to recognize an unusual medical reservist would give him training and ex- afternoon and watch the game with his condition. She and George were eventu- perience in the medical field he wanted two other boys, Omaar and Christo- ally sent to an endocrinologist, and at to pursue. Eventually, Deborah soft- pher. the age of 29, she was diagnosed with ened to the idea, and they enjoyed The day Deborah and the new lupus. the extra income and access to the base baby came home from the hospital was At the lead-up to the Gulf War, amenities, like a gym, movies, a place an infamous one: Jan. 28, 1986, the day Deborah had just returned home from
4 VAnguard • July/August 2012 another extended hospital stay. She slightly—she was able to drive and They were told to walk straight, would sometimes be hospitalized twice a move around with less difficulty. But not left or right, just straight out. “And year for up to three months at a time. the global events hadn’t changed, and you hear the hydraulics of the door be- The debilitating nature of lupus Deborah’s fears about her husband being hind you, you hear that door close, and requires a lifetime of steroid therapy sent off to war—such a remote possibility the plane revs its engine and just takes to keep the disease at bay, but that drug when he enlisted—were being realized. right off and leaves you there, in the regimen also affects muscle function. Her At Roslyn, they loaded bags into dark, in the middle of nowhere.” respiration was poor, her mobility lim- a truck driven by the first sergeant, and There was a truck off in the dis- ited, and she needed constant care. She Irish drove the bus carrying the troops. tance, which the troops saw only when needed her husband. When the phone They convoyed to McGuire, where a the driver put the headlights on. It rang that August evening, the timing plane was waiting for them, a C-141, and pulled toward them and Irish noticed could not have been worse. no one had yet told them where they that the driver was the chief of his Irish and his fellow reservists were going. unit—a face from home, a comfort- had known something was in the air. The flight was a long one. At a ing sight in the tense moments of his They ventured down to first experience with McGuire Air Force Base war. They all clambered in New Jersey more often, aboard and were taken to and things were just dif- a clearing and set up into ferent. He and the others tents. were suddenly issued gas Irish and his unit masks and new uniforms, created a field hospital to and were urged to get take in casualties. And their “personal affairs” in then, as Irish puts it, “the order. They had to name B-52s were in the air.” a guardian to take care of They were in touch with their children, and grant a the army field medical power of attorney. units, the MASH units, “It was scary,” Irish and quickly his desert said. “Get your bags and hospital began receiving let’s go,” he remembered patients. the commander saying. They were 75 miles Irish spoke to his com- from the Kuwaiti border, mander about his wife’s and the casualties were condition; he was sympa- different from other hos- thetic but it didn’t change pitals. Wounded coming things. Irish still had to off a battlefield must have report. His mother came to courtesy of george irish their weapons checked, stay at the house in Queens secured and accounted When George Irish joined the Air Force Reserve in 1982, he was just to help with the children. hoping to get some training and experience in the medical field—he never for. And that was one of He went to McGuire dreamed he’d end up going to war. Irish’s roles. As a weapons for four days of briefings. courier, he was armed with He was standing in line, bag in hand, stopover in England, they were switched an M-16 and a .45, and with that fire- waiting to board the bus to ship out to a C-130 and took off again. Some- power he said he never heard an argu- when his commander came over and time near midnight, they landed in the ment from anyone. told him someone else would take his middle of nowhere, miles into the Saudi At the end of the Gulf War, place. Other new reservists were trained Arabian desert. There were no lights, no when the shooting stopped, the in- and ready, and the decision was made proper airfield, no welcoming commit- jured American soldiers had shipped that one of them would go instead. tee. out and the hospital began taking in Irish returned home. But his com- “I’d never been on what they call Iraqi casualties. It was never clear if mander made it clear that his call would a ‘hot offload,’” Irish said. “They drop they were Saddam loyalists or asylum come later. And it did, on the day open the back of the aircraft, you hoist seekers. But most of them were happy to after Christmas. your bag with one hand and place your be there, he said, “because they knew By Jan. 2, he was at Roslyn. By other hand on the shoulder in front of they were going to get something to then, Deborah’s health had improved you, and you walk.” eat and a bath.” Even so, the hospital
VAnguard • July/August 2012 5 staff worked with extreme caution needed to return to the hospital, they Center in the Bronx became his second on each patient. As Irish put it, “you told him. Deborah’s vital organs were home. He would receive dialysis there couldn’t drop your guard, because you failing. They put her on life support. three times a week, every week, for the might never make it back. And my job Three days later, the phone call next six years. was to make it back home.” came, bringing the unyielding news that A year and a half after he began And he did, by the middle of May had been looming in his life: Deborah dialysis, he signed up for a kidney 1991. But the harshest challenge was had passed away. And now he had to transplant at Mount Sinai Hospital in still ahead. tell his sons. New York. After being on their wait- Omaar, the oldest, was away at ing list for nearly five years, he inquired college. Christopher was in high school, about the VA transplant program. Sonia “You couldn’t drop Alex in sixth grade. “They didn’t take Stephen, the transplant coordinator and your guard, because it well,” Irish said. “It was very hard on dialysis nurse at the Bronx VA, helped them, and on me.” They still have dif- Irish get on the VA list. you might never make ficulty talking about it. The VA system actively recruits it back. And my job was He asked the hospital personnel to patients for the transplant program, but to make it back home.” get his wife ready, get her dressed and it’s a complicated process to establish clean her up, keep her in the bed like physical and mental suitability, includ- she was sleeping. He wanted to bring the ing regular blood and cardiac screening, Deborah’s health seemed to sta- boys in to say goodbye. Deborah Alexis maintaining an appropriate body mass bilize, and she was driving again. He Slade Irish was two months shy of her index, and determining how well a bought her a small car, a five-speed 40th birthday when lupus claimed her patient complies with their dialysis and manual transmission, and taught her life. medication routines. how to drive it. She was happy with But there were more challenges In February 2011, Irish visited the that little car; working the pedals gave ahead for George Irish. In a cruel and VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, one her muscles some exercise. But then, ironic twist, after having assisted his wife of only four VA kidney transplant cen- because of the years of steroid therapy, through the rigors of ongoing dialysis ters in the country. He met the team, her kidneys shut down. She went on treatment, Irish was diagnosed with kid- had another round of tests, and waited. dialysis and sometimes was so weak from ney disease, and required dialysis himself. But not for long. the treatment that he had to carry her The James J. Peters VA Medical On Nov. 9, 2011, Irish was in the to the car. Over the course of the next few years, the disease took its toll. Deborah began losing weight and her episodes became more frequent and more se- vere. In December 1997, as they were getting ready to leave for work, Irish came downstairs and found his wife on the floor having a seizure. He carried her to the car and went straight to the hospital. She was placed directly into the Intensive Care Unit. By this stage, her lungs were se- verely scarred and she had tremendous difficulty breathing. The ICU team went to work on her. They intubated her, dialyzed her, and she began to come around, began talking. The doctor said she looked good; she was going to pull through. Preparations were made to transfer her out of ICU, and everyone thought courtesy of george irish she was going to make it. Then in Feb- George Irish’s unit set up and ran a desert field hospital 75 miles from the Kuwaiti border during the ruary 1998, as Irish returned home from Gulf War. Initially, they took in American casualties, but once the shooting stopped, they began visiting her, the phone was ringing. He taking in Iraqi casualties.
6 VAnguard • July/August 2012 George Irish with Dr. Rajeev Rohatgi, physician at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in the Bronx, N.Y. Irish was a regular on the dialysis unit there, three times a week, every week, for six years. Last November, he underwent a successful kidney transplant at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.
lynne kantor
Bronx on the dialysis machine, just like a transport car—it was downstairs wait- gery with a new kidney donated by an every Wednesday. His cell phone began ing for Irish as soon as he finished 18-year-old who’d lost his life in a tragic to ring. He didn’t answer. He never dialysis. At home, his son Christopher, accident. answers his cell phone during dialysis. It who was getting dressed for his grand- Irish’s transplanted kidney was a was Pittsburgh calling. mother’s funeral, immediately changed near-perfect match. He was out of the When they couldn’t reach him, plans and called a friend to take them hospital sooner than expected, and they contacted Rose Magdangal, the to the airport. has had no ill effects. care team manager of the Dialysis Unit, Irish then called his sister and We sometimes question where our who called Kedra Smith, the technician asked her to take over the responsibili- tax dollars go. This is where. Into a VA responsible for Irish’s treatment that day. ties at the funeral home. At the wake, medical system where a Veteran who “You better answer your phone,” she his mother’s priest made the announce- gave many years of service receives a told him. ment, and friends and family gathered medical procedure under urgent circum- But once again, the timing wasn’t there to say goodbye to Inez Irish also stances, executed by two professional perfect. Irish’s mother had just passed prayed for her son George. teams in two different cities, who link away and it was the day of her wake. At JFK Airport, Christopher and their skills and training, and in fewer After dialysis, he was headed to the George Irish boarded a private medical than 15 hours, accomplish a life-chang- funeral home for the service. But it was emergency transport plane to Pitts- ing operation. a life decision for him, and he knew burgh. They were on the ground there It’s a pretty satisfactory return on our exactly what his mother would have by 5 p.m., met by another car and investment. All of us taxpayers had wanted him to do. So when the team in taken directly to the hospital. a hand in making it happen. And Pittsburgh asked the question, and he Irish was put in a room and George Irish finally became the ben- said “yes,” the wheels went into mo- prepped, paperwork was finalized, and eficiary of a bittersweet coincidence of tion. he was in the operating room by 8 p.m. good timing. Michael Williams, the social And at 3 a.m., with his son waiting in worker for the dialysis patients, arranged the recovery room, he came out of sur- By Mary Ann Koenig
VAnguard • July/August 2012 7 When the pain got steadily worse, Garrison called her VA primary care provider, Dr. Saji Packal, at the Mal- com Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville, Fla. “Dr. Packal and her nurse David Clegg told me to come to the Chest Pain clinic in the hospital’s Emergency Room as soon as possible. I’m sure glad I did—I believe they saved my life.” Garrison, an Orange Park, Fla., resident, spent a fitful night in the Malcom Randall ER undergoing diag- nostic tests ordered by her doctor. The next day, she had an additional, high- tech test—a cardiac CT (computed tomography) scan, a quick, painless test doctors use to look for heart and other problems. During a cardiac CT scan, an The 320-Slice CT scanner at the Malcom X-ray machine—which looks like a Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville, Fla., can do a high-quality, 3D scan of the giant donut—rotates around the body pulsing heart or other organs in less time taking clear, detailed pictures of each than a heartbeat. Advances in imaging have part of a patient’s heart at ultra-fast dramatically reduced the need for exploratory surgery. speeds. A computer puts the images together to make a three-dimensional (3D) picture of the entire heart. “I had a bad night in the ER the day before and my nerves were jan- gled,” says Garrison. “But the test was A Clearer quick and non-invasive. From start to finish, it took only about 10 min- utes, and the CT technician, James (Mash), allayed all my fears. He was greg westlye Picture so reassuring, so kind, and so profes- sional—he went above and beyond to make my experience stress-free.” Thankfully, the CT scan, along of Disease with the other battery of tests, ruled out any damage to her heart, and with Imaging advances an accurate diagnosis, the problem was successfully treated and her symp- improve health care toms subsided. “She had what ap- peared to be chest pain related to her for Veterans. medication,” which was subsequently adjusted, according to Packal. eika Garrison describes the pain she had been Today, advances in diagnostic im- aging, like CT scans, MRIs (magnetic walking around with for more than a month: “It resonance imaging), PET (Positron felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest.” Emission Tomography) scans and But the 57-year-old Air Force Veteran says she other fused techniques are having a N major impact on how disease is diag- continued to ignore the pressure in her chest. “I thought nosed and treated. And a smarter way maybe it was my asthma medicine.” to manage these images means earlier
8 VAnguard • July/August 2012 diagnosis and treatment—especially evaluate the film from an X-ray, CT, cal center in VISN 8. Now, PACS for Veterans who receive their health PET or any other health care image functions as a single system for the care at VA hospitals and clinics in and report the findings to the patient’s entire network, with the capability for Florida, South Georgia and the Carib- physicians. radiologists to read images for multiple bean, the network of hospitals known “Having the ability to perform the facilities. as VISN 8. study with the advanced technology The benefits include quicker The Malcom Randall VAMC ob- equipment is of little use if physicians turnaround times, enhanced patient tained a 320-Slice CT scanner in No- trained in interpreting the procedures safety, and lower costs, according to vember 2011. At a cost of about $1.5 are not available,” Wymer says. “For- Wymer. “We can now analyze images million, it can do a high-quality, 3D tunately, at the North Florida/South from anywhere at any time. If a test scan of the pulsing heart or other or- Georgia Veterans Health System, we was done in Orlando, and Miami has gans in less time than a heartbeat, ac- have subspecialty, fellowship-trained the best GI radiologist, we can reach cording to Dr. David Wymer, chief of cardiologists and radiologists to ana- out to that specialist immediately. It’s Diagnostic Imaging. He says there are lyze our cardiac and body images.” also useful for our patients who travel less than 90 such scanners installed at Today, VISN 8 is one of only two and get their care at different VA fa- hospitals across the country, including VA networks and one of only a few cilities. They won’t have to repeat the the VA. private hospital systems in the country test,” he says. “The ability to image an entire to have a system-wide, multi-hospital Another benefit is the ability to organ and show how it’s working PACS—Picture Archiving and Com- remotely read emergency CTs, which means faster, more accurate diagnosis, munication System. PACS is a film- is helpful if a radiologist is ill or when better patient outcomes and ultimate- less information system that enables one hospital has too many studies to ly, lower health care costs.” radiologists in different locations to handle. “The capability to share imag- In fact, advanced imaging has, analyze and discuss images from any es and expertise makes VA absolutely in many cases, replaced exploratory hospital in the system without ever unique,” Wymer notes. surgery. Wymer compares the CT having to leave their local worksta- Improved patient care at the hos- diagnostic technique with a more tion. PACS is tied directly to VA’s pital level is another plus to PACS, conventional procedure to evaluate Vista system, which manages the as radiologists from different imaging the heart. many documents and images in a pa- modalities consult with specialists and “A cardiac catheterization proce- tient’s electronic health record. a patient’s primary care physician to dure takes two hours—plus time off PACS was initially acquired as an develop a treatment plan. from work, sedation, and surgical risk. independent system at each VA medi- Such is the case at Malcom The cardiac CT is non- Randall, which merged invasive and takes two Air Force Veteran Radiology and Nuclear minutes.” Neika Garrison. Medicine into a combined A CT scan may be clinical service. Staff quick and non-invasive, there recently developed but is it safe? “We keep combined interpretation the radiation exposure sessions, where Cardiolo- of our patients at the gy, Radiology and Nuclear lowest possible level,” Medicine physicians all says Wymer. “We are come together to discuss fortunate to have highly each cardiac case, and advanced imaging equip- ideally, provide the best ment that allows us to use analysis. low exposure imaging and Of the synergy software on our machines achieved by the merger, that lowers the dosage Wymer says, “By doing by another 20 to 30 per- this, we can come up with cent.” the very best clinical de- Being able to do the cisions for our Veterans, test doesn’t equate to be- and that’s what we’re all ing able to read the test, about.” according to Wymer. Typically, radiologists courtesy of neika garrison By Susan Wentzell
VAnguard • July/August 2012 9 Gould, who champions the program. “By providing executives with the right tools, we can work collaborative- ly to solve cross-cutting challenges to improve performance in government.” Leading EDGE is an unprecedent- ed leadership development program that will unite more than 2,000 senior executives in tackling government’s challenges. It is supported by the President’s Management Council, or PMC, which is comprised of deputy secretaries and administrators from across the federal government. At the core of the program is the premise that government cannot operate opti- mally without collaborative networks and a motivated senior executive corps that has the right tools to lead in these rapidly changing times. Collaboration is the cornerstone of the new program. Leading EDGE will draw heavily on the experiences of the senior executives themselves as well as experts from the public, private and nonprofit sectors through a series of workshops and an exclu- sive Web portal designed to both VA Deputy Secretary boost networking among executives W. Scott Gould helped kick and serve as a repository for sharing off the first Leading EDGE knowledge and facilitating problem workshop June 28. michael l. moore solving. Tighter budgets and growing mission demands have increased the need for agencies to share ideas, work more closely together, and be more Collaborating to Tackle open to innovation. “Today’s government requires a Government’s Challenges new level of partnership and execu- tion,” said Gould. “Leading EDGE is New government-wide a forward-leaning approach—a shift in thinking—that will prepare career leadership program leaders for the new social, digital and economic realities we are working aims to develop the in. Through this program, we have a tremendous opportunity to improve senior executive corps. government’s mission performance.” Prior to the launch of Leading lmost a thousand senior (Executives Driving Government EDGE, participating executives were executives from across 15 Excellence). polled about the issues and challenges federal agencies kicked off “Through Leading EDGE, we facing them. The program’s cur- Athe first of six meetings June will develop a seamless and power- riculum reflects their input in the six 28 as part of a new government-wide ful senior executive corps, unified in workshop themes: Leading in Chal- senior executive leadership develop- purpose and aligned in priorities,” lenging Times; Leading Efficiently ment program called Leading EDGE said VA Deputy Secretary W. Scott With Impact; Leading Innovation;
10 VAnguard • July/August 2012 Leading a Workforce Under Stress; Support for Government Problem-Solvers Leading for Bottom-line Results; and If you were to ask a dedicated public servant, “How hard is it to solve a long- Leading in Transition. standing government problem?” the answer would most likely be “difficult at While the program is an invest- best.” If you ask her how to “solve it without a budget,” she would probably re- ment in senior executives through ply that it would be “next to impossible.” training, networking and coaching, it Senior executives attending the new Leading EDGE workshops plan to will also engage participants in real- solve some of the toughest problems faced in federal government today and do world projects. it using existing, workable solutions and technology, while incorporating best “The Government Performance practices. Projects are derived from the Presi- “You’ll notice that we have not provided paper handouts today,” said VA dent’s own Management Agenda and Deputy Secretary W. Scott Gould, during the first Leading EDGE workshop. “This will focus on ways to get better mis- is a green event and everything is available through the Web on the Leading sion performance, whether it’s by cut- EDGE portal.” ting or avoiding costs, improving effi- Leading EDGE is leveraging technology to reach more than 2,000 senior ex- ciency and citizen customer service, or ecutives without having to fund employee travel and per diem. The cornerstone reducing cycle time and paperwork,” of the program is the Leading EDGE portal, which was developed on an existing said Gould. Office of Management and Budget website. This “share first” approach allowed Five interagency teams of up to for rapid implementation at reduced costs. 25 executives will collaborate on one The portal is a valuable tool for the senior executives because it provides a or more cross-cutting initiatives to useful repository of leadership information. In addition to the workshop videos, improve government-wide mission it includes leadership and network assessments, blogs from thought leaders, ar- performance. At the last program ticles, and, importantly, professional networking capabilities for executives. workshop in December, the Govern- The Leading EDGE portal contains profiles of the government’s senior exec- ment Performance Project teams will utives, allowing them to learn more about each other professionally and where present their findings or proposals. their particular skills and experiences could be of assistance in solving an issue Members of the PMC, the Office of that might affect multiple agencies. Through the portal, executives will be able Management and Budget and an ex- to hold discussions in various forums to tackle pressing issues, ask for advice pert panel will evaluate each proposal, and discover communities of practice. It will serve as a collaboration workspace and the best plans could be imple- spanning their organizations. mented widely across government. Gould is visibly proud of the intelligent and resourceful executives in gov- In addition to the team projects, ernment, and highlighted the value of collaboration that Leading EDGE will executives will undergo two assess- advance. “We have some incredibly talented problem-solvers in the federal ments and, if their agencies have government,” he said. opted for it, receive coaching. The “Some may be surprised at the private sector innovations that started within first assessment will benchmark their the government—Turbo Tax resulted from our modernization of the IRS and our professional networks, and provide in- outreach to accounting practitioners to encourage partnership in new ways. sights into how they can strategically We need to leverage that kind of innovative thinking and spread it across our enhance their connections with a fo- enterprise, opening discussion and diverse points of view to realize a new path cus on achieving results in their work. forward.” The second assessment is focused on evaluating their leadership skills, Government Performance Projects are focused on cross-cutting initiatives that which will provide a first-ever execu- deliver return on investment in fiscal year 2012 and beyond in nine areas: tive leadership skills baseline in gov- n Grants Management n Financial Management ernment. Coaching, which has long n Acquisition/Strategic Sourcing n Shared Administrative Services been a private sector best practice in n Asset/Real Property Management n IT Applications/Management optimizing personal and organizational n HR Management n Customer Service/Delivery success, will focus on ways executives n Program Analysis/Innovation can leverage their leadership strengths to overcome challenges. participant asking at the workshop be.” “The response from the first work- about how they could post a challenge The second workshop, Leading shop was overwhelmingly positive,” on the portal and seek feedback from Efficiently with Impact, was scheduled said Leading EDGE Executive Direc- their peers—it’s that kind of owner- for July 25. tor Jim Trinka. “People are embracing ship and outreach that will make this the spirit of collaboration, with one program the success we know it can By Gary Hicks
VAnguard • July/August 2012 11 jennifer sammartino Prints from the show on display for viewing. Transforming Toward Recovery Veterans showcase their art at New York’s famed Museum of Modern Art.
few years ago, when Army the Day Hospital program. The group Beryl Brenner, creative arts therapist Veteran Roberto Funes opened a show of original works of at the Brooklyn facility. was a New York City art entitled “Inked Identity: Veterans Brenner asked the Veterans to Adetective escorting Tony Explore Tattoos” at the Lewis B. and design tattoos that spoke to them Blair, former Prime Minister of the Dorothy Cullman Education and Re- as individuals. Sally Paul, museum United Kingdom, into the Museum search Building. educator with MoMA, taught print- of Modern Art, or MoMA, he never The show featured black and making techniques to the Veterans could have imagined his own work white prints made by 23 members of during workshops, and the resulting would one day grace a wall at the the Veteran Support Center, based prints were selected for the exhibition. world-famous museum. at the Brooklyn VA. The prints were Afterwards, the entire group discussed But that’s exactly what happened. made over several months through a the meaning of the images on a per- Funes, a member of the Veteran Sup- collaborative program between VA sonal level. port Center at the VA New York and MoMA’s Education Department. Funes, who served in Iraq and Harbor Healthcare System, showed “The program is designed to help is a member of the New York Army his work at MoMA in November Veterans with creative self-expression, National Guard, said that showing 2011, along with other Veterans in growth and self-understanding,” noted his work—and the other pieces in the
12 VAnguard • July/August 2012 “I couldn’t even look at my own work. It made me cry. That’s how powerful it was for me. My heart, my blood, my soul were on that wall.” show—helps the public understand history of serving Veterans, dating could show my kids what I had done “what all Veterans go through.” back to the creation of its Armed and then be able to show it in the Those sentiments were echoed by Services Program in 1942, followed by museum.” other Veterans in the group. its War Veterans’ Art Center, which Other artists from the group “Everyone has art within them,” opened in 1944 and served thousands were equally floored by the news that said Juan Carlos Cifiuntes, an Army of Veterans through rehabilitative and they’d be showing their original art- Veteran. “I appreciate art and I appre- prevocational art programs. work at one of the world’s most highly ciate that fellow Veterans helped me “We continue in the same spirit regarded art museums. with my work. I threw a lot of feelings today by working with Veterans across “I couldn’t imagine something I in there. Some things I didn’t want to New York, and were delighted to have made being in the same building as talk about—it’s like my diary.” this special collaboration with the VA Picasso and Monet,” said Chumagali The Veteran artists said that be- in Brooklyn,” said Francesca Rosen- Ali, a Marine Corps and Vietnam ing able to express themselves through berg, director of Community, Access Veteran. “My family couldn’t believe art has helped them transform toward and School Programs at MoMA. Mo- it. There was my stuff with all the fa- recovery. MA’s Carrie McGee, assistant edu- mous artists.” For Louis Robert Cadet, a Marine cator for the program, also played a “It was really gratifying to be able Corps Veteran of Desert Storm and pivotal part in helping the group coor- to display at MoMA,” said Bruce Mar- Desert Shield, working on a piece for dinate the exhibition. ion, a Navy Veteran who admitted the show helped him reconnect with “I was very happy to see the Vet- that he was reluctant at first. “I am so a part of himself he thought he’d lost erans shine,” said Brenner, who has glad I did it. My family had a chance forever. worked with Veterans and the arts for to see it and they were in awe.” “I used to be an artist … this 33 years. “We were thrilled to have an For Vietnam Veteran Nathaniel brought back a little of my child- opportunity to work with MoMA. It’s Lewis, the show at MoMA boosted hood,” said the former Alvin Ailey the most important modern art mu- his self-esteem and showed him a side dancer. “I’ve done painting, but this seum in the country and our Veterans of himself he didn’t know was there. was my first experience with print. It were showing there.” In fact, his work, entitled “Back from gave me a chance to express certain For Funes, showing the work at Hell,” set the tone for the event by things that I’ve kept inside—things MoMA was indeed a thrill. “I figured appearing on the invitation. about the service, where I come from, if someone like Tony Blair went there, “There was so much love at where I want to be.” it’s a big deal,” he said. “It was excit- MoMA,” Lewis said. “I never thought For many in the group, tapping ing and made me feel good because I anyone would ever line up to look at into their creative sides our stuff. I used to cut art has been a new experi- class in high school and 50 ence, but a welcome one. years later, I’m involved in “Being a part of the stuff like this. It made me program awakened a feel real proud.” creative side of me that I For photographer knew I had but had put and Veteran Sheridan to sleep,” explained Fer- Dean, having his work at dinand Sabat Jr., a Navy MoMA was validation of Veteran. “To be a part of a life dedicated to art. “I’m the show is an honor. I a photographer—I know couldn’t even look at my the value of being shown own work. It made me there,” he said. “I hope cry. That’s how powerful it can be shown in other it was for me. My heart, places, but to have my my blood, my soul were Kaden Dillard, son work at MoMA, that’s an on that wall.” of Veteran artist outstanding feat.” The Museum of Chris Dillard, looks at the work. Modern Art has a long jennifer sammartino By Jennifer Sammartino
VAnguard • July/August 2012 13 Lewis McCullough Some 50 David’s Drive 831 volunteers delivered almost $20,000 worth of essentials like socks and T-shirts for Veterans at the Coatesville VA Medical Center on Memorial Day. Honoring a Lost Life Through Serving Veterans Charity carries out the wishes of an employee gone too soon. avid would have loved this,” said David Turner Sr., director of David’s Drive 831, as he unloaded box after box of donations for Veterans at the Coatesville (Pa.) VA Medical Center this Memorial Day. “D David’s Drive 831 is a 501(c)(3) charity that David Sr., his wife, Joy, and daughter, Samantha, created to honor the life of their son and brother, David Turner Jr., who, at age 20, died suddenly in December 2009.
14 VAnguard • July/August 2012 From a young age, David Jr. ad- special. The Turner family has created 831 “starter kit,” which consists of mired military service members and an ongoing and powerful tribute to items like sheets, comforter, pillows, Veterans. In fact, he was an active David Jr.” pots and pans, toothbrush, deodorant, member of his high school’s Air Force As the charity has grown, it has cleaning supplies, and more. Junior ROTC program, and at the evolved with the hospital’s many The surrounding community time of his death, he had been em- programs. Over the last few years, wholeheartedly supports David’s Drive ployed for a short time by the Veter- Coatesville’s implementation of the 831’s efforts. Fundraising events such ans Canteen Service retail store at the Housing and Urban Development- as dine-n-donates and sporting events Coatesville VA Medical Center. Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing occur frequently. The charity also en- While working at the hospital, program, or HUD-VASH, has given joys the sponsorship of businesses such David Jr. learned that you don’t have hundreds of homeless Veterans the as Advanced GeoSystems, Wegmans to be a doctor or nurse to help Veter- opportunity to live independently in and Verizon Wireless; sports teams in- ans. Many he met were homeless and the community. The medical center cluding the Philadelphia Eagles, Phil- in early recovery; they came to the holds 275 Section 8 housing vouchers lies, Flyers and 76ers; and other local hospital without essentials. David Jr. that Veterans use in Pennsylvania’s organizations, including the Modena wanted to help beyond his job respon- Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Westwood fire companies and the sibilities, but he never got the chance. counties. Coatesville Rotary Club. That’s why the charity was formed Getting started in a new home The numbers 8-3-1 have special and works on his behalf to supply Coatesville’s Voluntary Service with everyday items hospitalized Veterans need. On Memorial Day, after collect- ing some donations at nearby East Fal- lowfield Township’s “Hats Off to Our Heroes” celebration, approximately 50 David’s Drive 831 volunteers delivered almost $20,000 worth of es- sential items such as socks, underwear, T-shirts and toiletries for Veterans at the hospital. The organization holds events all year to raise money and donations. Earlier this May, in honor of what would have been David Jr.’s 23rd birthday, the Turner family hosted a backyard barbeque for nearly 150 people. To get in the door, though, partygoers had to bring a donation. lewis McCullough “Show us your underwear, and lunch “Growing up, we would always say 831 to each other and our parents,” said Samantha is on us!” quipped Joy Turner. That Turner, with her parents David Turner Sr. and Joy Turner after they delivered donations to the Coatesville VA Medical Center on Memorial Day. “It means eight letters, three words, one day’s collections, too, were part of the meaning—-I love you.” Memorial Day delivery to the hospi- tal. requires a good foundation of house- significance to the Turners. “Growing Not only does David’s Drive 831 hold items, including furniture, which up, we would always say 831 to each make generous donations, they also the funding does not provide. HUD- other and our parents,” Samantha give tirelessly of their time at hos- VASH and Voluntary Service staff Turner recalled. “It means eight let- pital events like picnics, the VA2K work hard to collect and provide as ters, three words, one meaning—I Walk+Roll and many more. “This or- much as possible to help out. love you.” Through David’s life, the ganization demonstrates the very best Through donated funds, David’s code has taken on even more mean- in American values,” said Coatesville Drive 831 recently began giving a ing, demonstrated through the actions VAMC Director Gary W. Devansky. brand new bed to every Veteran en- of the charity named for him. “And they serve those who have tering the program. Additionally, the protected those values, which is truly charity provides the David’s Drive By Kathleen Pomorski
VAnguard • July/August 2012 15 hen Registered Nurse and Iraq Veteran Crystal Nemer was named man- Wager of the Fargo (N.D.) VA Health Care System’s Intensive Care Unit, she knew she wanted to make a difference in the care of Vet- erans and their families. “While I was on active duty in Iraq, I realized how much I wanted to give back to the Veterans I serve at the Fargo VA,” said Nemer, “and my job immediately took on a new focus.” During a visit to the Minneapolis VA Health Care System through the VA Midwest Health Care Network (VISN 23) LEAD leadership program, Nemer noticed the palliative care unit there had a commemorative Ameri- can flag display that could be moved from room to room as needed at the time of a Veteran’s death. She learned that the display helped grieving families by showing them how much the VA respected and cared for their loved ones. Touched by what she saw, she immediately began thinking about how she could arrange to have a simi- lar flag display on the ICU in Fargo. After returning to Fargo, she shared the experience she’d had in Minne- margaret wheelden apolis with her co-workers, Kristiana The Honor Tables are placed outside the rooms of deceased Veterans. Oleson and Nicole Ueckert, who were inspired to take on the project. “We knew Crystal was determined to help Veterans’ families with their grief,” Oleson said, “and we wanted to be a Made FOR part of this worthwhile project.” Once the three nurses joined forces, the creative juices began flow- ing on the design and features of the Veterans tables. They decided that they would each create a table with the involve- ment of their families. They planned BY Veterans to make one for the ICU, one for the Community Living Center, and one for the Medical/Surgical Inpatient Fargo VA’s handcrafted Unit as gifts for National Nurses Day Honor Tables on May 6. Nemer’s husband, Floyd, who is bring comfort to a nurse anesthetist at the Fargo VA, helped her with her table from start grieving families. to finish. “I was happy to assist Crystal 16 VAnguard • July/August 2012 with such a heartfelt project,” Floyd Guard since 2000 and was deployed to said. “I knew how much it meant to Iraq from 2003 to 2004. She currently her.” serves as a nurse with the North Da- Ueckert had no woodworking ex- kota Army National Guard State perience but was determined to learn. Medical Detachment. When she described the project to her Ueckert was also a member of the Veteran grandfather, Pat Detwiller, he North Dakota Army National Guard was willing to help. from 2000 until 2010, and served in An experienced carpenter, De- Iraq from 2004 to 2005, alongside her twiller recently had heart surgery and husband, who served in the North wasn’t supposed to use power tools. Dakota Army National Guard from “Grandpa used his mind and I used 1996 to 2006. Her grandfather, De- my hands,” said Ueckert. “He de- twiller, served in the Army from 1951 signed the table and directed me every to 1953; he served in the Korean War step of the way.” from 1951 to 1952. Detwiller and Ueckert asked their Oleson’s father, Army Spc. Lee margaret wheelden local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Hillsboro, N.D., to donate the flags for the tables. “It was a project we could work on together as Veterans,” Nicole said, “and it gave us a sense of satisfac- tion knowing how much the tables would mean to other Veterans.” Oleson’s husband, Jay, a member of the North Dakota Army National Guard with more than 13 years of ser- vice, immediately came on board and helped her with the table from begin- ning to end. “To be able to make this gift for other men and women who have sacrificed so much for our coun- try is such an honor,” Jay said, “and it was such a meaningful project to work on.” With the three tables complete, the nurses donated them during their Nurses Day celebration. Even though margaret wheelden the day was designed to honor their Top: The Honor Tables let Veterans know that “even if they are gone, they are never work for Veterans on Nurses Day, forgotten,” said Crystal Nemer. Above (left to right): Patrick Detwiller, Nicole Ueckert, Floyd they wanted to give back to the Vet- Nemer, Crystal Nemer, Jay Oleson and Kristiana Oleson with their creations. erans they serve. Hanson, was a proud Vietnam Vet- she explained, the patient got teary- Now, when a Veteran passes away eran who served as a volunteer at the eyed. “That is sure nice of you girls at the Fargo VA, an Honor Table is Minneapolis VA until his passing in to think of us Veterans that way,” he placed outside the room of the de- 2007. exclaimed. “If I die back in Bismarck, parted Veteran, and remains in place The nurses are already seeing the will you bring a table to me?” until the family and patient have left effect the Honor Tables are having on The three nurses say their hope is the room. “It is all about showing Veterans. The day before they were that the stands will make an impact honor and respect to our Veterans,” presented, the tables were placed in not only on Veterans and their fami- said Nemer. the hallway outside the ICU patient lies, but also on the facility staff. “We The entire project had special rooms. want all Veterans to know that even meaning for everyone involved be- One patient spotted the tables if they are gone, they are never forgot- cause of their personal connections to from his bed and motioned for Kristi- ten,” said Nemer. Veterans. Nemer has been a member ana to come into his room. He asked of the North Dakota Army National her what they were for, and when By Margaret Wheelden
VAnguard • July/August 2012 17 Celebrating 150 Years of African American Military Service July 17 marks the 150th anniversary of a law that authorized the first official enlistment of African Americans into the U.S. armed forces.
ne hundred and fifty years returning runaway or captured slaves. Emancipation Proclamation took ef- ago, our country was em- On July 17, 1862, embedded in fect on Jan. 1, 1863, were official regi- broiled in a caustic, bloody the Second Confiscation and Militia ments of African American soldiers Ocivil war that pitted fellow Act, Congress gave the President formed and designated as the U.S. Americans against one another. authority to enlist persons of African Colored Troops, or USCT. When the Civil War began in April descent into the U.S. military forces, After the Civil War, honorably 1861, African American slaves com- for the first time in history. Prior to discharged USCT were eligible for prised roughly one-eighth of the U.S. the Civil War, free black men served pensions, burial in national cemeter- population, and they were quickly in every American war and enlisted ies, and admittance to the new Na- eyed as potential manpower by both with state, colony or local militia reg- tional Home for Disabled Volunteer the Union and Confederate armies. iments—not with U.S. forces. Slaves, Soldiers (VHA origins), the same as Most slaves in the South were however, had no choice and were white Veterans of the Union Army. forced by their owners to aid the Con- forced to serve, often as “substitutes” Pvt. Joshua Williams, of the 22nd federate cause. As the war entered its for white owners, or leased to state USCT Infantry, Company G, was the second year, casualties escalated with or local authorities for military labor first African American Veteran admit- no easy end in sight, and the enlist- purposes. ted to a National Home. He was a free ment of African Americans to fortify Slaves who enlisted in the U.S. man from Pennsylvania and received military ranks became a viable option. military forces were given their free- a gunshot wound to his left leg during Barely a month after the Civil dom, along with rations, uniforms and the Battle of Dutch Gap in Virginia War began, Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, other provisions, including the same on Sept. 19, 1864. commander of the Union forces in benefits afforded other volunteer sol- His wound never healed properly, Virginia and North Carolina, defied diers. They were not armed, at first, so so he was admitted to the Central the Fugitive Slave Act by issuing their primary duties consisted of camp Branch home in Ohio in March 1867. a military order declaring runaway service or labor, such as constructing The National Home opened at its slaves, who belonged to owners in entrenchments. permanent location in Dayton later rebellion, as “contrabands” of war and However, by the fall of 1862, that fall, and Pvt. Williams lived out refused to return them to their own- three Union generals had formed his remaining years there. He died on ers. Six weeks later, Congress vali- armed African American regiments Aug. 31, 1872, and was buried in the dated Gen. Butler’s order by enacting in Kansas, Louisiana and South Caro- National Home cemetery, now known the First Confiscation Act on Aug. 6, lina, despite not being officially sanc- as Dayton National Cemetery. Joshua 1861, prohibiting Union officers from tioned by the Army. Only after the Williams was one of roughly 200
18 VAnguard • July/August 2012 USCT admitted to one of four Na- The proud legacy of African foreign countries—for their bravery tional Homes during its first 15 years Americans in federal military service, and skill in military service. of operation. begun by the USCT, did not end After nearly a century of proven Other USCT admitted to the when the last official USCT regiment service in the U.S. military, the era National Homes included Joshua mustered out in December 1867. The of all-black regiments came to an end Dunbar, father of poet Paul Laurence U.S. Army was reorganized after the after World War II. On July 26, 1948, Dunbar, and men who served with the war to include African American President Truman signed Executive 54th and 55th Massachusetts USCT infantry and cavalry regiments, and Order 9981 to end segregation in the regiments. many former USCT continued to U.S. military and government. The National Homes were the serve in the “new” Army. first government hospitals-homes es- African American soldiers helped By Darlene Richardson tablished for volunteer soldiers who protect settlers and U.S. interests in served with the Union military forces the American West and Southwest, Editor’s note: To commemorate the during the Civil War. They were and served with distinction in the 150th anniversary, the history exhibit transferred to VA in 1930. Spanish American War and both “Blacks in Blue: the USCT Legacy” The USCT fought in more than World Wars. They continued to defy is currently traveling to various VA 39 major battles and 400 minor their skeptics and received numerous sites. For more information, contact battles or skirmishes during the Civil awards—including recognition from VHA Historian Darlene Richardson. War. More than 180,000 African Americans served in the U.S. Army and roughly 30,000 served in the U.S. Navy during the war. Some 120 USCT were promoted to non- commissioned officer positions and 26 received Medals of Honor for their heroic service—all firsts in American history.
The proud legacy of African Americans in federal military service did not end with the U.S. Colored Troops. Serving in segregated Army infantry and cavalry regiments, African American soldiers helped protect U.S. interests in the American West and Southwest, and served with distinction in the Spanish American War and both World Wars. Photos courtesy of VHA History Office
VAnguard • July/August 2012 19 The Cobo Center was the site for the three- day event.
Not Just Another Job Fair VA hosts its biggest-ever hiring event in Detroit. robert turtil
housands of Veterans from 96,000 unemployed Veterans. There northern Kentucky, was pleased with around the country de- are several million Veterans in that the assistance he received from the scended on Detroit’s Cobo same radius. So why not pick a place professionals staffing the Hiring Fair. TCenter June 26-28 to attend where you can come and in one loca- “My coach was amazing—she VA’s signature event for 2012—the tion and one stop be able to see every- helped me understand the job ap- National Veterans Small Business thing we have to offer?” plication process and how to apply Conference, Hiring Fair and Open During the planning phase, Gin- for federal jobs,” said Malatesta, who House. grich and senior VA leaders became planned to apply for three jobs on- Held annually, the National determined that the event would not line with his new resume after going Veterans Small Business Conference just be another job fair. They wanted through the coaching session with is the federal government’s premier to provide real job opportunities to Cheryl Gravely. “She gave me some event for Veteran-owned small busi- Veterans and sought out other fed- job tips and some other things to help nesses. With VA at the helm this eral agencies and numerous private me look for a civilian job or a federal year, senior officials decided to add a businesses to bring jobs to the table. job. Having a job coach was an in- Hiring Fair and Open House to the When the doors opened at the Cobo credible benefit for this job fair.” event and provide a broad range of Center, 24,000 jobs were up for grabs, Malatesta left the Air Force as an opportunities to serve more Veterans. and VA was geared up to assist Veter- armament system specialist 25 years “The whole idea behind the set ans every step of the way by providing ago. He used his VA educational ben- of conferences is to be able to tell resume assistance, one-on-one coach- efits to complete an undergraduate de- the Veteran community that VA is ing and help navigating the maze of gree in marketing and an MBA from here for you,” said VA Chief of Staff federal employment. Wayne State University in Detroit, John R. Gingrich. “Within a 600-mile Air Force Veteran Nick Malat- and then began working in the private radius of Detroit, there are 94,000 to esta, who drove to the event from sector. In 2011, the father of three lost
20 VAnguard • July/August 2012 interviewed over the three-day event, show why the event was dubbed a Hiring Fair instead of a run-of-the- mill job fair. Air Force Veteran “People are getting hired on the Cyrena Cox walked away from the Hiring Fair with spot,” Gingrich said from the floor of multiple job offers. the Cobo Center. “I think the reason this is not a job fair is that we are ac- tually hiring. We have the proof we are hiring.” Army Reservist Dawn Vickery, of Roseville, Mich., returned from Af- ghanistan four months ago, and is still making the transition as she resumes life in America. “The transition hasn’t been easy,” said Vickery. “I came here to look for
Bob Sparkman/Brian Long defense-related positions. I talked to his job, and along with it, his health Air Force Veteran insurance. Nick Malatesta drove to the event from While in Detroit, he also partici- Kentucky, and took pated in the Open House, applying for advantage of every VA health care for the first time since opportunity offered his discharge. He spent all three days there. at the event taking advantage of every available opportunity and focused heavily on tweaking his resume with professional help. About 100 job coaches like Gravely sat at individual tables equipped with laptops and assisted Veterans with putting together new resumes at the Hiring Fair. Not all Veterans needing coaching assistance bob sparkman/brian long were able to travel to the Cobo Cen- biomedical field,” said Cox, who got the state police, border patrol, and I ter, but that didn’t stop VA from her start in the field back in 1979 in also spoke to intelligence-type com- lending a helping hand. For instance, the Air Force. “Next thing I knew, I munities such as CIA, FBI and DIA. I 15 service members serving in Kuwait was being rushed here and there, and got a couple of good leads, I think.” received training and coaching via now I have a couple of job offers and She said this hiring event was video teleconference, as did service more coming. I have a tentative in different from most because of VA’s members stationed at five other mili- Dayton, Ohio, and one here in De- involvement and that of others who tary installations. troit. I also have offers in California understand and value the skills Veter- Air Force Veteran Cyrena Cox’s and Florida.” ans bring to the table. only motivation for attending the Cox, who is employed, said she “They understand the back- event was to be with her sister, who felt overwhelmed by the multiple job grounds we come from, they under- ended up not making it. But after offers, especially since she did not stand our unique experiences, and spending $10 on parking, she decided come to the Hiring Fair looking for a they respect us,” Vickery said. she might as well check things out. job. “Now, I have so many job offers Helping Veterans like Vickery While browsing the numerous dis- that I have to sit down and decide find good jobs, ease the pain of tran- plays, she stopped by a VA medical what city I want to live in,” said Cox, sitioning to civilian life and open the center booth and asked about vacan- with tears in her eyes. door to benefits is what VA leaders cies. Cox’s experience, as well as that had in mind when they decided to “I inquired about any jobs in the of 5,733 other Veterans who were bring all three events under one roof
VAnguard • July/August 2012 21
larry marchionda for the first time by building on the National Veterans Small Business Conference. “This is the one place that VA has been able to offer 24,000 jobs, hiring and coaching and mentoring techniques, and help for small busi- nesses,” said Gingrich, adding that VA partnered with the Small Business Administration. Joining the hundreds of vendors, America’s big three automakers— GM, Ford and Chrysler—attended the small business conference and offered valuable advice to Veteran entrepre- neurs. “They came in and gave training and classes on how you can partner with private industry,” Gingrich said. “Well, that is just as important as robert turtil partnering with the federal govern- ment. They came here and said, ‘You guys are working real hard to get them into federal government. We also need to get strong Veterans into small businesses outside the federal govern- ment. That is why we are doing what we are doing with the small business world.” Melanie Bergeron, incoming chair of the National Franchising Associa- tion and chair of the moving company Two Men and a Truck, spoke briefly at a session of the Open House to acknowledge the 40 companies repre- sented at the Hiring Fair and the busi- ness expo. The goal was to recruit and connect Veterans and their spouses larry marchionda with franchise opportunities. Top and above: Veterans could take advantage of a variety of opportunities at the event. “The show has completely a chance to talk to franchise owners have to work with in the interior de- exceeded all of our expectations,” at the hiring fair. sign business, so it was the perfect fit.” Bergeron said. “There are about 40 New franchise owner Laura Han- Her husband served in the Ma- franchise owners here committed to nis and her husband, Chad, received a rine Corps from 1990 to 1994; his hiring Veterans. Veterans are perfect special invitation to attend the small military service allowed his wife to for franchising and franchising is business conference. That’s because participate and receive a discount in perfect for Veterans. Two Men and a she started an interior design franchise purchasing a franchise. Truck is thrilled to have taken over business about nine months ago. “We were able to realize a mon- 200 applications and spoken to over “The franchise business model etary incentive to purchase this fran- two dozen qualified candidates to be appealed to me in the sense that it is chise,” said Chad Hannis. “This was a franchisees that will fit perfectly in our very structured—all of the systems are great program that was laid out before system.” in place,” said Hannis, whose business us to take advantage of and move into Veterans and their spouses who primarily serves residential areas in owning a franchise.” want to own their own company western Michigan. “They have already rather than work for an employer had vetted all of the vendors that I would By Michele R. Hammonds
22 VAnguard • July/August 2012 Restoring Independence and Mobility VA research enables a paralyzed woman to move a robotic arm just by thinking about it.
recent study in Nature May 17 edition of the journal Nature In the research, the participants used reported that two people by the BrainGate2 collaboration of neural activity to directly control two with tetraplegia were able researchers at VA, Brown University, different robotic arms, one developed Ato reach for and grasp Massachusetts General Hospital, Har- by the DLR Institute of Robotics and objects in three-dimensional space us- vard Medical School and the German Mechatronics and the other by DEKA ing robotic arms that they controlled Aerospace Center, or DLR. Research and Development Corpora- directly with tion, to per- brain activ- form reaching ity. They used and grasping the BrainGate tasks across a neural inter- broad three- face system, an dimensional investigational space. device cur- The rently being BrainGate2 studied under pilot clinical an Investiga- trial employs tional Device the investiga- Exemption. tional Brain- On April Gate system 12, 2011, initially nearly 15 years developed after she be- at Brown came paralyzed University, in and unable to which a baby speak, a wom- aspirin-sized an controlled device with a brown university a robotic arm grid of 96 tiny by thinking A 58-year-old woman, paralyzed by a stroke for almost 15 years, uses her thoughts to control a electrodes is about moving robotic arm, grasp a bottle of coffee, serve herself a drink, and return the bottle to the table. implanted in her arm and hand to lift a bottle of A 58-year-old woman (“S3”) the motor cortex—a part of the brain coffee to her mouth and take a drink. and a 66-year-old man (“T2”) par- that is involved in voluntary move- That achievement is one of the ad- ticipated in the study. They had each ment. The electrodes are close enough vances in brain-computer interfaces, been paralyzed by a brainstem stroke to individual neurons to record the restorative neurotechnology and assis- years earlier, which left them with neural activity associated with intend- tive robot technology described in the no functional control of their limbs. ed movement. An external computer
VAnguard • July/August 2012 23 translates the pattern of impulses original target by a brainstem stroke erans. “VA is honored to have played across a population of neurons into was still able to direct the complex, a role in this exciting and promising commands to operate assistive devices, multidimensional movement of an area of research,” said Secretary Eric such as the DLR and DEKA robotic external arm—in this case, a robotic K. Shinseki. “This announcement arms used in the study reported in limb. The researchers also noted that represents a great step forward toward Nature. S3 was able to perform the tasks more improving the quality of life for Vet- BrainGate participants have pre- than five years after the investiga- erans and others who have either lost viously demonstrated neurally based tional BrainGate electrode array was limbs or are paralyzed.” two-dimensional point-and-click con- implanted. This sets a new benchmark John Donoghue, the VA and trol of a cursor on a computer screen for how long implanted brain-comput- Brown neuroscientist who pioneered and rudimentary control of simple er interface electrodes have remained BrainGate more than a decade ago robotic devices. viable and provided useful command and who is co-senior author of the The study represents the first signals. study, said the paper shows how far demonstration and the first peer-re- Partial funding for this work the field of brain-computer interfaces viewed report of people with tetraple- comes from VA, which is committed has come since the first demonstra- gia using brain signals to control a ro- to improving the lives of injured Vet- tions of computer control with Brain- botic arm in three-dimensional space Gate. to complete a task usually performed “This paper reports an important by their arm. Specifically, S3 and T2 advance by rigorously demonstrating controlled the arms to reach for and in more than one participant that pre- grasp foam targets that were placed in cise, three-dimensional neural control front of them using flexible supports. of robotic arms is not only possible, S3 also used the DLR robot to but also repeatable,” said Donoghue, pick up a bottle of coffee, bring it to who directs the Brown Institute for her mouth, issue a command to tip it, Brain Science. drink through a straw, and return the “We’ve moved significantly closer bottle to the table. Her BrainGate-en- to returning everyday functions, like abled, robotic-arm control during the serving yourself a sip of coffee, usu- drinking task required a combination ally performed effortlessly by the arm of two-dimensional movements across and hand, for people who are unable a tabletop plus a “grasp” command to to move their own limbs. We are also either grasp and lift or tilt the robotic encouraged to see useful control more hand. than five years after implant of the “Our goal in this research is to BrainGate array in one of our par- develop technology that will restore ticipants. This work is a critical step independence and mobility for people Dr. John Donoghue toward realizing the long-term goal of with paralysis or limb loss,” said lead creating a neurotechnology that will author Dr. Leigh Hochberg, a neu- “We’ve moved restore movement, control and inde- roengineer and critical care neurolo- pendence to people with paralysis or gist who holds appointments at VA, significantly closer to limb loss.” Brown University, Massachusetts returning everyday In the research, the robots acted General Hospital and Harvard. He as a substitute for each participant’s is the sponsor-investigator for the functions, like serving paralyzed arm. The robotic arms re- BrainGate2 pilot clinical trial. “We yourself a sip of sponded to the participants’ intent have much more work to do, but the to move as they imagined reaching encouraging progress of this research coffee, usually for each foam target. The robot hand is demonstrated not only in the reach- performed effortlessly grasped the target when the partici- and-grasp data, but even more so in by the arm and hand, pants imagined a hand squeeze. Be- S3’s smile when she served herself cause the diameter of the targets was coffee of her own volition for the first for people who are more than half the width of the robot time in almost 15 years.” unable to move their hand openings, the task required the Hochberg added that even after participants to exert precise control. nearly 15 years, a part of the brain own limbs.” (Videos of these actions are available essentially “disconnected” from its - Dr. John Donoghue on the Nature website.)
24 VAnguard • July/August 2012 brown university Dr. Leigh Hochberg is the sponsor-investigator for the BrainGate2 pilot clinical trial. He is a neuroengineer and critical care neurologist who holds appointments at VA, Brown University, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University.
In 158 trials over four days, S3 with human users, could be valu- also by more directly thought-driven was able to touch the target within an able as an assistive robotic device for control. We’re pleased about these allotted time in 48.8 percent of the people with various disabilities. results and for the continued research cases using the DLR robotic arm and Patrick van der Smagt, head of being done by the group at the VA, hand and 69.2 percent of the cases bionics and assistive robotics at DLR, Brown and MGH.” with the DEKA arm and hand, which director of biomimetic robotics and The research is aimed at learn- has the wider grasp. In 45 trials using machine learning labs at DLR and the ing how the DEKA arm might be the DEKA arm, T2 touched the target Technische Universität München, controlled directly from the brain, 95.6 percent of the time. Of the suc- and a co-senior author on the paper, potentially allowing amputees to more cessful touches, S3 grasped the target said: “This is what we were hoping for naturally control this prosthetic limb. 43.6 percent of the time with the with this arm. We wanted to create Over the last two years, VA has DLR arm and 66.7 percent of the time an arm that could be used intuitively been conducting an optimization with the DEKA arm. T2’s grasp suc- by varying forms of control. The arm study of the DEKA prosthetic arm ceeded 62.2 percent of the time. is already in use by numerous research at several sites, with the cooperation T2 performed the session in this labs around the world that use its of Veterans and active duty service study on his fourth day of interacting unique interaction and safety capabili- members who have lost an arm. Feed- with the arm; the three prior sessions ties. This is a compelling demonstra- back from the study is helping DEKA were focused on system development. tion of the potential utility of the arm engineers refine the artificial arm’s Using his eyes to indicate each let- by a person with paralysis.” design and function. ter, he later described his control of DEKA Research and Develop- “Brain-computer interfaces, such the arm: “I just imagined moving my ment developed the DEKA Arm as BrainGate, have the potential to own arm and the [DEKA] arm moved System for amputees, through funding provide an unprecedented level of where I wanted it to go.” from the Defense Advanced Research functional control over prosthetic The study used two advanced Projects Agency, or DARPA. Dean arms of the future,” said Joel Kuper- robotic arms: the DLR Light-Weight Kamen, founder of DEKA, said, “One smith, M.D., VA chief research and Robot III with DLR five-fingered of our dreams for the Luke Arm (as development officer. “This innovation hand and the DEKA Arm System. the DEKA Arm System is known in- is an example of federal collaboration The DLR LWR-III, which is designed formally) since its inception has been at its finest.” to assist in recreating actions like the to provide a limb that could be oper- human arm and hand and to interact ated not only by external sensors, but By Tom Cramer
VAnguard • July/August 2012 25 Around Headquarters
New Processing Model for Compensation Claims Deployed
n Special Operations: Claims claim” to expedite the process. requiring special handling The 16 regional offices because of the unique cir- that have received the new or- cumstances of the Veterans. ganizational and process model These include financial hard- are: Huntington, W.Va.; Hart- ship; homelessness; serious ford, Conn.; Portland, Ore.; wounds, injuries or illnesses; Houston; Cleveland; Des post-traumatic stress disorder Moines, Iowa; Boise, Idaho; associated with military sexual Phoenix; New Orleans; San trauma; and former prisoner of Juan, Puerto Rico; Atlanta; war status. Indianapolis; Wichita, Kan.; n Core: Claims with more Milwaukee; Newark, N.J.; and than two medical conditions, Fort Harrison, Mont. or those that will need ad- These offices will also re- ditional evidence to make a ceive new technology systems compensation decision. and software upgrades over the The segmented-lanes ap- next few months. All 56 VA proach helps increase speed regional offices will have fully and accuracy because the implemented all of the people, claims specialists become fa- process and technology initia- miliar with processing claims tives in VA’s transformation of similar complexity. plan by the end of 2013. Veterans and their vet- To learn more about how erans service organization to file “fully developed claims” representatives are encour- using VA’s new Disability aged to provide all the needed Benefits Questionnaires, or evidence along with their ap- DBQs, visit benefits.va.gov/ plication in a “fully developed disabilityexams.
New Grants Will Help Homeless and glenn hangard At-Risk Veterans and Families The new model is part of a comprehensive plan to eliminate the compensation claims backlog. VA recently awarded nearly very low-income Veteran VA is deploying a new model success.” $100 million in grants that families. for processing compensation The new organizational will help approximately Homeless providers benefits claims at 16 VA re- model involves special han- 42,000 homeless and at-risk awarded the grants will of- gional offices. The new model dling of claims from Veterans Veterans and their families. fer Veterans and their fam- is part of a comprehensive who are facing the most seri- The grants are going to 151 ily members outreach, case transformation plan designed ous injuries or illnesses or ex- community agencies in 49 management, assistance in to yield an estimated 150,000 periencing financial hardships states, the District of Colum- obtaining VA benefits and as- to 200,000 additional com- or homelessness, and therefore bia and Puerto Rico. sistance in getting other public pensation claim decisions need immediate attention. Under the Supportive benefits. Community-based annually, while ensuring Through a new “intake Services for Veteran Families groups can offer temporary Veterans most in need receive processing center,” claims are program, VA is awarding financial assistance on behalf priority attention. routed to one of three seg- grants to private nonprofit of Veterans for rent payments, “This new model is part mented lanes: organizations and consumer utility payments, security de- of our comprehensive plan to n Express: Claims that have cooperatives that provide posits and moving costs. eliminate the compensation only one or two medical services to very low-income Details about the Sup- claims backlog,” said Under conditions, or have all the Veteran families living in—or portive Services for Veteran Secretary for Benefits Allison supporting documentation, transitioning to—permanent Families program are available A. Hickey. “Our redesigned medical evidence and service housing. Those community at www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf.asp. model follows comprehensive records needed for an expedi- organizations provide a range More information about VA’s planning and testing to ensure tious rating decision—referred of services that promote hous- homeless program is at www. we have the right recipe for to as “fully developed claims.” ing stability among eligible va.gov/homeless.
26 VAnguard • July/August 2012 Around HeadquartersOUTLOOK
VA, DOT Join Forces to Help Veterans Connect to Jobs and More
The Department of Trans- portation in July announced $29 million in grants to pro- vide improved access to local transportation for Veterans and their families, wounded warriors and other military personnel, helping them find affordable rides to work, school, shopping, medical care and other destinations in their communities. The grants will support 64 projects in 33 states and the Northern Mari- ana Islands. “Ensuring that our Veter- ans and military families have access to quality, convenient transportation is just one way we can thank them for their service,” said DOT Secretary Ray LaHood. “With these transportation grants, we will help connect Veterans and robert turtil military families with the jobs and training opportunities A new grant program supports local governments and transit agencies implementing technologies that make it easier for Veterans to access rides on buses and other transportation systems. they deserve, as well as the medical care and other services to—civilian life.” can only help the Veterans sit rides and schedules, day or they need, all located close to He added: “They have that we see,” Petzel said. “We night. home.” served their country, and now have 152 medical centers, close Further north, the Great- Dr. Robert Petzel, VA’s it’s time for their country to to 1,000 outpatient clinics, er Dayton Regional Transit Under Secretary for Health, serve them.” and nearly 300 vet centers. Authority in Dayton, Ohio— said the DOT/VA collabora- The DOT grant program But none of those resources home to Wright-Patterson tion will help Veterans return- is known as the Veterans help if the Veterans who need Air Force Base and more than ing from Iraq and Afghanistan Transportation and Commu- those services have no way of 80,000 Veterans—will receive make a new life for themselves nity Living Initiative. Funded getting to them. $450,000 to help make it eas- and their families, and will and managed by the Federal “So we appreciate DOT’s ier for Veterans to arrange for also benefit “the generations Transit Administration, it investments in projects that rides by phone, smart phone of older Veterans who want to supports efforts by local gov- will make a real difference in or on the Web. remain independent, at home, ernments and transit agencies people’s lives by giving them The Veterans Transporta- for as long as possible. to implement technologies— the opportunity to get from tion and Community Living “All of these Veterans ranging from “smart phone” their homes to needed services Initiative was developed by the have one thing in common,” applications to real-time transit with far less difficulty than in Federal Interagency Coordi- Petzel observed. “They all bus locator information—that the past.” nating Council on Access and need transportation they can make it easier for Veterans and But how, exactly, will the Mobility, a permanent part- depend on to build and main- others to access and schedule grant money be used? nership of federal departments tain successful lives in their rides on available buses, vans, Lee County, Fla., is a working together to better communities. taxis and other transportation good example. That commu- coordinate federal programs “Especially with so many systems. nity will receive $1.4 million on behalf of people with dis- Veterans now returning home The unemployment to install new information abilities, older adults and indi- after a decade of war, it is rate for Iraq and Afghanistan kiosks at a brand new VA out- viduals with lower incomes. more important than ever that Veterans is higher than the patient clinic in Cape Coral For more information on we try to provide them with national average. and other locations, where the individual grants, go to fta. as much support as we can as “It is important to re- Veterans can readily obtain dot.gov/grants/13094_13528. they re-enter—and readjust member that here at VA we real-time information on tran- html.
VAnguard • July/August 2012 27 Around Headquarters
Honoring Their Memory: The History of the VA Veterans Medallion
VA has released a new form briefed in 2007 on the pro- tute of Heraldry at Fort Bel- cations were made and revised for next of kin to use when posed legislation that would voir, Va., in 2008; the process medallion prototypes were ordering the bronze medallion. give VA authority to provide from inception to completion manufactured. The nine-star VA Form 40-1330M, Claim a bronze “V” that could be af- was not immediate. flag design was again shared for Veteran Medallion, replac- fixed to a privately purchased The Institute and NCA with the Committee in No- es VA Form 40-1330, Claim headstone to designate the had asked the Committee vember 2009; it unanimously for Standard Government grave of a Veteran buried in a to provide design ideas. The endorsed the design and also Headstone or Marker, initially private cemetery. Committee recommended that recommended that the Acting used to make the request. At that time, the Com- the medallion be a distinctive Under Secretary for Memorial “A tremendous amount mittee expressed concern that symbol and shape, have flag Affairs adopt the design for of forethought and planning use of a bronze “V” could symbolism and have the word recommendation to the Secre- went into the creation of this be misconstrued as meaning “Veteran” inscribed on it. tary of Veterans Affairs. medallion,” said VA Secre- “Valor” rather than “Veteran.” The Institute submit- The medallion is available tary Eric K. Shinseki. “VA is As a result of the concerns, ted three final designs to VA: in three sizes: 5 inches, 3 inch- pleased to provide another the proposed legislation was a shield, a flag and an eagle. es and 1-and-a-half inches in option to families to honor the revised, and the final language NCA presented the designs to width. Each bronze medallion memory of their loved ones.” in Public Law 110-157 (signed the Committee in November features the image of a folded Under federal law, eligible in December 2007), Section 2008. The majority of the burial flag adorned with laurels Veterans are entitled to either 201(5), states that the VA members preferred the flag and is inscribed with the word a government-furnished grave may: “furnish, upon request, design with some modifica- “Veteran” at the top and the marker or the medallion, but a medallion or other device tions. NCA then conducted Veteran’s branch of service at not both. The medallion is of a design determined by research on flag-folding and the bottom. furnished in lieu of a tradi- the Secretary to signify the determined that when the flag Families ordering the me- tional government headstone deceased’s status as a Veteran, is folded, the number of stars dallion will receive a kit that or grave marker for Veterans to be attached to a headstone showing is either four or nine. allows them or a staff member whose death occurred on or or marker furnished at private NCA requested that the of the private cemetery in after Nov. 1, 1990, and whose expense.” Institute modify the flag de- which the Veteran is buried to grave in a private cemetery is Furthermore, the respon- sign. Three flag designs were affix it to a headstone, grave marked with a privately pur- sibility for the implementa- created: a nine-star and two marker, mausoleum or colum- chased headstone or marker. tion of P.L. 110-157, Section four-star versions. NCA then barium niche cover. The establishment of 201(5), including the design conducted three focus groups To order the medallion, the medallion is governed and distribution of the new to get feedback on the most go to www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/ by Public Law 110-157, Dr. device, fell to NCA’s Memo- popular design. The nine-star hmorder.asp. For more infor- James Allen Veteran Vision rial Programs Service. As a flag was preferred by the ma- mation about the medallion, Equity Act of 2007. The Na- first step, the MPS director jority of the participants. go to www.cem.va.gov/cem/ tional Cemetery Administra- consulted, and then initiated a Based on the feedback re- docs/factsheets/medallion.pdf. tion Advisory Committee on contract for professional design ceived from the focus groups, Cemeteries and Memorials was services with, the Army Insti- some additional design modifi- By Richelle Taylor
The bronze medallion is available in three sizes: 1-and-a-half inches, 3 inches and 5 inches in width.
chris erbe
28 VAnguard • July/August 2012 Around HeadquartersOUTLOOK
ISOs: The ‘Secret’ Agents Behind VA Information Security
When it comes to secret or VIP. This weeklong an- “After Awareness Week, they we’re approachable,” says Reif- agents, the names James Bond, nual event is designed to raise see our faces and get to know ers. “And we’re here to help Jason Bourne, or Ethan Hunt awareness of the critical role us. This creates a personal if they have a problem. I take from “Mission: Impossible” all VA employees play in pro- bond when it comes to pro- pride in knowing that Sioux may come to mind. Movies tecting Veterans’ information. tecting our Vets and their Falls employees are better and TV shows have trained us This April, VA employees and information.” equipped to protect our sys- to believe that all secret agents Veterans from coast to coast And Trevino has the sta- tems and our Veterans.” use code names like “Double- were greeted by their facility’s tistics to back it up. Nearly 88 Meanwhile, in Reno, O-Seven,” drive fast cars, and security team with helpful percent of VA employees who Nev., ISO John Whitehill opt- drink martinis—shaken, not handouts on topics like social participated in a post-Aware- ed for a comparatively more stirred. While this highly fic- media and securing mobile de- ness Week survey nationwide traditional approach to infor- tionalized persona works for vices, and even an information say they now know their mation security training: social Hollywood blockbusters, true security challenge or two. ISO—an important statistic, media. Whitehill created a secret agents often prefer a Rolando Trevino, a re- especially when it comes to YouTube video (www.youtube. much lower profile, and at VA tired Air Force Veteran and reporting information security com/watch?v=pvxIR97ZO2k) go by the code name “ISO.” ISO at the Robert J. Dole VA breaches that may occur. highlighting information se- Information Security Medical Center in Wichita, In addition to meeting curity best practices that was Officers (ISOs for short) are Kan., wanted to make sure their security team, VA em- shown during a town hall responsible for safeguarding that VA employees know who ployees also learned how to meeting for employees. the personally identifiable to call when they have a secu- improve their daily security “They say a picture is information, or PII, of more rity question—by face and by routines during the 2012 In- worth a thousand words,” than 10 million Vet- Whitehill reflects. erans and more than “I’m hoping our video 300,000 employees presentation will be 24/7, 365 days a year. worth at least as much Even Bond can’t top in terms of attention that. As the local face and compliance with of information secu- VA information se- rity, they are charged curity guidelines.” If with the ultimate se- not, he has more than cret mission—keeping 100 signatures of at- Veterans’ sensitive tendees who signed an information, well, information security secret. pledge to serve as an “ISOs and Privacy Of- name. Taking the “Where’s formation Security Awareness important reminder of their ficers are the true force behind Waldo?” concept to a whole Week. commitment to protecting protecting Veterans’ informa- new level, Trevino teamed “Always lock your com- Veterans’ information. tion,” explains Jerry Davis, with Visual Information puter when you leave your “Our Veterans served our Deputy Assistant Secretary Specialist Curtis Tasset to su- desk. Think twice before you country,” Whitehill adds. “It’s for the Office of Information perimpose photos of him and click on suspicious emails. And our duty to protect their infor- Security. “They work hard Privacy Officer Richard Di- if you no longer need a sensi- mation.” day in and day out to keep Caprio within a crowd photo tive document, shred it,” ISO While Whitehill and the VA systems and information and challenged approximately Mary Reifers told employees other “secret agents” behind safe and to educate our work- 1,300 VA employees and con- at the Sioux Falls (S.D.) VA VA information security may force about the importance of tractors in his facility to find Health Care System. share little in common with protecting our Veterans’ data. their ISO and Privacy Officer. She and her team turned their movie counterparts, their They are the secret agents be- While many succeeded (the the auditorium into an infor- efforts during the 2012 In- hind VA’s security mission.” record time was 10 seconds), mation “voyage,” with ports formation Security Awareness As part of that mission, for others it served as an ice- of call representing topics such Week are no less heroic. Day ISOs and their Privacy Officer breaker. as ethics, compliance, and, of in and day out, they are help- counterparts recently executed “When we go out to course, security. While leis and ing make VA more secure and, a mission of their own during [Community-Based Outpa- Hawaiian shirts were optional, when it comes to protecting the 2012 Information Security tient Clinics], there are a few using strong passwords was a Veterans’ information, mov- Awareness Week—Mission: employees who have no clue must. ing one step closer to Mission: Veteran Information Protector, who we are,” Trevino admits. “We showed people that Accomplished.
VAnguard • July/August 2012 29 Introducing
Christiana Hess INTRODUCING Youth volunteer Christiana appointments just so they Hess, of the Martinsburg could come while we were (W.Va.) VA Medical Center, working together,” Hess said. was selected as a $20,000 “I never realized how much scholarship winner in the I could impact a person’s life Jesse Brown Memorial Youth until I volunteered.” Scholarship Program. Named The following two years, in memory of the second Sec- Hess volunteered at the front retary of Veterans Affairs, the window of the Outpatient Disabled American Veterans’ Pharmacy. She served as the scholarship program recognizes first line of communication outstanding young men and between the department and women who volunteer their Veterans, collecting informa- time and encourages youth tion from patients for phar- volunteers to play active roles macy records, guiding them in the VA Voluntary Service through the process to obtain programs. their prescriptions and direct- kathryn morris Hess attributes her love ing them to the appropriate Youth volunteer Christiana Hess greets a Veteran at the Outpatient Pharmacy of volunteering to a tradition locations. window at the Martinsburg (W.Va.) VA Medical Center. of military service in her fam- “We are always pleased ily, from her ancestor Henry when Christiana greets us at She demonstrated leader- technicians,” said Hess. Harrison Ross in the Civil the windows,” wrote Oscar ship as captain of the front For the first two years War to her uncle Bryan Ross, and Mildred Steckman. “She ensemble for her high school’s of college, she plans to at- an Operation Enduring Free- is always neat and says hello marching band. Through her tend Shepherd University in dom Veteran. “Volunteering with a smile that makes us feel membership in the National Shepherdstown, W.Va., before has made it my duty to do that we are welcomed. Her Honor Society, Key Club, transferring to West Virginia whatever I can to help our loving attitude and personality Ecology Club, Tuscarora Indi- University in Morgantown to Veterans,” said Hess. “This is give us a feeling of home.” ans 4H Club, American Red pursue a doctorate degree in my way of remembering and Hess also trained other Cross and Relay for Life, she pharmacy. Following comple- celebrating my family legacy.” youth volunteers on proper has volunteered in many com- tion of her education, Hess In 2009, Hess began vol- procedure for dispensing pre- munity service activities. intends to become a VA phar- unteering at the medical center scriptions and use of the phar- “I understand the value macist. in Ambulatory Care Service, macy computer system. Hess of hard work because of vol- Her volunteer work with where she assisted several de- introduced her best friend, unteering,” said Hess. “I’ve pharmacists in primary care partments by organizing and Dalisa Bohrer, to volunteer- learned to be responsible, to has inspired her career choice. “When I watched them “I never realized how much I could impact a person’s life provide personal care to the Veterans—from regulating until I volunteered.” dosages to providing guid- ance on blood pressure and updating pharmacy manuals, ing, and last summer they each multitask and to work with diabetes—I saw myself doing preparing appointment letters completed more than 100 different kinds of people. The the same work. It’s through and, most importantly, greet- hours of volunteer work in the dedication and commitment volunteering that I know I ing patients and answering pharmacy. I have for volunteering is the want to become a pharmacist their questions or locating staff Hess has not only excelled same dedication and commit- and to continue serving our to assist with their needs. as a volunteer at the medical ment I have as a student at my Veterans.” During the first summer center, but also as a student high school or captain of our By Kathryn Morris that Hess volunteered, she at Martinsburg High School. section in the marching band.” worked alongside her mother She was recognized for her Her future goals have Pamela, a patient services as- academic achievements as a been greatly influenced by her More Information sistant for one of the medical member of the National Hon- experience volunteering at the Jesse Brown Memorial center’s primary care teams, at or Society and Honor Roll, medical center. “I have had Youth Scholarship the front desk. “I remember as well as a recipient of the the wonderful opportunity to Program: www.dav.org/ some World War II Veterans West Virginia PROMISE and work with an incredible group volunteers/scholarship.aspx who would reschedule their George Karos scholarships. of pharmacists and pharmacy
30 VAnguard • July/August 2012 MedicalOUTLOOK Advances
Looking for New Ways to Treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Doctors at the Ralph H. ing new approaches to treating Johnson VA Medical Cen- PTSD––ones that might pro- ter in Charleston, S.C., and duce better results, quicker. elsewhere throughout VA, are “Recently, we’ve been experimenting with potentially experimenting with several faster ways of providing relief new technological and phar- to Veterans coping with post- macological advances, in com- traumatic stress disorder, or bination with other therapies,” PTSD. Pelic said. “We’re finding that “PTSD is a condition that this ‘combination approach’ sometimes arises when a per- may offer increased effective- son is exposed to an extreme ness over existing evidence- stress event, such as life threat, based treatments offered in combat, or witnessing some isolation.” sort of traumatic event,” ex- One treatment being plained Dr. Christopher Pelic, tested at VA is an adjunctive a psychiatrist with the Charles- therapy for PTSD called Tran- ton VA. scranial Magnetic Stimulation, “Following exposure,” he or TMS. It is being combined continued, “you might have with an existing evidence- recurrent problems with night- based therapy, Prolonged mares, re-experiencing, feelings Exposure, in an attempt to of being on edge, and avoid- enhance and accelerate treat- ance of things that remind ment effects. you of the events. These are Dr. Ron Acierno, a psy- Chris Baroody commonplace. In some indi- chologist with the Charleston viduals, however, symptoms VA, explained how it works: Veteran Laura Lythgoe relaxes while Dr. Christopher Pelic prepares become so great that they can “The Veteran sits in a chair to hook her up to equipment that will provide gentle magnetic pulses to her brain. prevent you from performing and thinks about the traumatic your day-to-day activities. Peo- event they experienced while now––when used in combina- ducting Prolonged Exposure ple avoid work, social settings, they were in the war zone. tion with Prolonged Exposure therapy over the computer and life in general to withdraw While that’s happening, mag- therapy––appears to be gener- or via iPads,” the psycholo- to a perceived ‘safe zone.’” netic pulses stimulate the part ating positive results as a treat- gist said. “This saves travel Pelic said that to date, of the brain that allows you to ment for PTSD. time and increases session at- pharmacological interventions feel in control of a situation. “Combining exposure tendance. At VA we call this have relied mainly on medica- This is important, because one therapy with TMS is a novel ‘meeting the Veterans where tions, like Zoloft, while psy- of the cardinal symptoms of approach to treating PTSD,” they’re at.’ chological interventions have PTSD is a sense of helpless- he said. “We’re in the early “For example,” he con- turned primarily to exposure- ness or lack of control over the stages of this type of therapy, tinued, “they might have child based treatments—cognitive event. Thus, when the patient but the results are encourag- care responsibilities, or they behavioral therapies—to is reminded of the event, these ing. We’ve seen some of our might spend a lot of time at diminish symptoms of PTSD. feelings of helplessness––this patients experience a nice turn- work. Or they might live far (Remembering and imagining lack of control—returns. around early on. We haven’t away from a VA medical cen- a traumatic event in detail, “The theory,” he con- had a large number of subjects, ter. With an iPad or a home repeatedly, is a key component tinued, “is that combining but we’re seeing some good computer, or even a smart- of exposure therapy.) stimulation of this brain center results.” phone, they’re connected to “Exposure-based interven- with exposure to the traumatic Acierno noted that VA us, no matter where they are. tions have been very effective memory will allow patients to also offers Prolonged Exposure They can still receive the same with about 65 percent of those replace that sense of helpless- therapy to Veterans in their treatment.” treated,” Pelic said. “However, ness with a sense of perceived homes through televideo tech- For more information this means that 35 percent of control over the disturbing nology. on PTSD and available treat- behavior therapy patients are memory.” “Specifically, VA research- ments, go to www.ptsd.va.gov. still experiencing significant Acierno said TMS has ers are assessing the safety symptoms.” already been used successfully implications and overall com- www.ptsd.va.gov So VA is continually test- in treating depression, and parative effectiveness of con-
VAnguard • July/August 2012 31 Medical Advances
Researchers Explore New Direction in Battle Against Hepatitis C
Two researchers at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center in Mountain Home, Tenn., and East Tennes- see State University who are studying hepatitis C have received a $1.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to pursue a new direc- tion as they try to crack the code of the virus. Dr. Zhi Q Yao and Dr. Jonathan Moorman received the grant to study a virus that affects 4 million people in the United States, has limited treatment options and no available vaccine. Yao, an as- sociate professor of Internal Medicine at ETSU’s James H. Quillen College of Medicine, is the director of the Hepa- titis Program at the Quillen
VAMC and the principal in- Larry Smith/ETSU vestigator on the project. His co-investigator is Moorman, Dr. Zhi Q Yao, left, and Dr. Jonathan Moorman hope to crack the code of the virus. chief of Infectious Diseases at the VAMC and a profes- Yao and Moorman theo- they understand that their their research. He hopes for a sor of Internal Medicine at rize that a recently discovered research could result in better discovery that could do more the College of Medicine and inhibitory receptor called treatments or a cure. for patients who suffer from its division chief of Infectious Tim-3 disrupts the natural New breakthroughs hepatitis C. Diseases. innate immunity by prevent- in hepatitis C are needed, “We have to have im- Yao and Moorman began ing monocytes from correctly Moorman said, because cur- proved treatments for hepatitis studying hepatitis C together identifying hepatitis C as a rent, long-term treatments C,” Moorman said. “The in 2000 at the University of virus. A focus on monocytes— are effective in only about 50 treatments have gotten better, Virginia School of Medicine, instead of T cells—is a branch percent of patients. The virus but what we do have isn’t ef- but they have spent most of of hepatitis C research that hunkers down in the liver and fective for almost half of our the years since in Johnson remains largely unexplored. can lead to cirrhosis, cancer, patients, and they can have City. Their work has been “Most of our research has liver failure and death; it is the some pretty nasty side effects. consistently funded by NIH, focused on T cells, and the most common reason for liver And though it’s a virus that but they have primarily looked role of monocyte function in transplants. The lack of better largely attacks the liver, it can at the effect of hepatitis C on hepatitis C has been lightly treatments for hepatitis C is affect the whole body, espe- T cells, a type of white blood studied,” Yao said. “Our goal particularly vexing, Moorman cially the immune system.” cell that fights infection and is to identify molecules that said, because about 15 percent In addition to their grant diseases in the human body. could be targets for new im- of patients self-cure from the funding, which falls under New findings, however, mune therapies, or vaccine virus—a sure sign that a vac- NIH’s intensely competitive have centered their attention development.” cine is attainable. R01 classification, Yao and on cells called monocytes, Yao and Moorman “That’s the holy grail of Moorman were co-authors on which work in concert with T praised the Veterans at Moun- hepatitis C research,” Moor- more than 10 influential scien- cells to fight disease. Mono- tain Home who come to its man said. tific papers that reported their cytes look for harmful, intrud- Hepatology Clinic, where Yao Working with in- findings over the last two years ing pathogens in the body, and is director. Many who receive fected patients at the Quillen in the Journal of Immunology, when they spot them, alert the antiviral treatment there have VAMC, Moorman established Journal of Leukocyte Biology, normally dormant T cells to agreed to participate in the a blood sample database 10 Immunology and Cell Biology, awaken and attack. study, Moorman said, because years ago that has guided and PLoS One, among others.
32 VAnguard • July/August 2012 HaveOUTLOOK You Heard
The Craft Behind the Music A Place of Honor— If you think learning to play Handle With Care a violin is difficult, think how Things look quite a bit difficult it must be to make different these days at San one. In 1970, that thought Antonio’s Audie L. Mur- did not deter 23-year-old Gio- phy Memorial Veterans vanni Gammuto from starting Hospital, which was dedi- his own company to make cated in 1973 and named and restore custom violins. In after the most decorated fact, Gammuto estimates he World War II soldier, has made 750 violins during who died in a private his career as a luthier. More plane crash in 1971. Pam astounding is the fact that he Murphy, Audie’s widow, continues to make violins de- attended the dedication spite being visually impaired. ceremony and donated His visual impairment many cherished items to might have ended his career the facility built to care if not for the help he received for the men and women last year as a student in the following in Murphy’s Eastern Blind Rehabilitation footsteps. Center’s Residential Training richard thompson In May 1975, the Program at the VA Connecti- eight-foot, one-ton bronze Giovanni Gammuto with his most recent violin. cut Healthcare System in West statue of Murphy in battle Haven. This program helps participants learn the skills necessary to maximize their independence dress was dedicated and and continue participating to the greatest extent possible in the activities they enjoy most. After placed in front of the five weeks in the program, Gammuto was able to return to his home and workshop in Pennsylva- facility. Over the past few nia and resume his work with the aid of a camera and HD monitor provided by VA. Gammuto is years, the Murphy fam- now enrolled in the Blind Center’s Computer Access Training Program. ily, the Audie Murphy Foundation, the Audie Murphy/American Cot- Detroit Tigers Pitcher ton Museum and the VA Donates $45,000 to historian have discussed VA Facilities methods to preserve the Justin Verlander, star pitcher aging donated items in for the Detroit Tigers, present- need of professional, ed the Detroit and Ann Arbor museum-quality care. VA hospitals with a check for In January, VA $45,000 in May. The money staff worked closely with was raised through the sale of museum staff to relocate more than 110,000 boxes of many artifacts, such as the “Fastball Flakes” cereal he’s his uniform, letters from been “pitching” since Febru- Presidents, and various ary. “When the cereal was other prestigious medals introduced, Justin told both and accolades. Profession- medical centers that 100 per- als at the Audie Murphy/ cent of the proceeds would be larry marchionda American Cotton Mu- divided between our two hos- seum in Greenville, Texas, Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander (center) presents a check to designed a special exhibit pitals,” said Alysse Mengason, Detroit VA Director Dr. Pamela Reeves and Ann Arbor VA Director public affairs officer for the Robert P. McDivitt. showcasing the valuable Detroit VA Medical Center. artifacts. While sending “That’s huge. His $45,000 gift is just an initial donation!” the artifacts to the mu- The 14-ounce box of cereal, which is a take-off on Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, retails for $3.49 seum in Greenville was and features a likeness of Verlander pitching a baseball. The cereal company signed Verlander after bittersweet for the San he won the American League’s Cy Young and Most Valuable Player awards last season. Verlander Antonio VA staff, it was has been a supporter of Veterans and VA for quite some time. His first cousin, Christopher, is on essential to preserve them his second tour of duty, currently serving in Afghanistan. After presenting an oversized check to for future generations. VA officials, Verlander said, “The only thing I can say to the Veterans is, ‘Thank you.’”
VAnguard • July/August 2012 33 Have You Heard
VA Testing Family Caregivers’ Use of iPads in Mobile Health Pilot VA Signs Agreement The Mobile Health Pilot for With 14 Tribal Health Family Caregivers will begin Programs this September when VA loans Fourteen Alaska tribal iPads to approximately 1,000 health programs recently randomly selected family care- signed a Memorandum givers. The iPads will be pre- of Understanding with loaded with VA mobile health the Alaska VA Healthcare applications designed and System that will allow created to support the needs of Alaska Native Veterans to family caregivers, as well as the receive health care services Veterans they care for. in tribal clinics in their The apps will support a home community. Under range of health care manage- andrew white the agreement, VA will ment, facilitate day-to-day Caregiver Mark Corey, shown with his Veteran son, Keith, will be reimburse the participat- administrative needs, expand among hundreds of family caregivers who will eventually have quick ing health care entities for education and communication, and easy access to a wealth of valuable health management their services. Non-Native information—and VA support—via their iPad. and strengthen communica- Veterans will also be able tion among Veterans, family caregivers and clinicians. to receive care at the par- The six-month pilot includes a research study to determine the impact of the apps on fam- ticipating tribal health ily caregiver burden levels and Veteran health care use. At its conclusion in the spring of 2013, facilities. VA will roll out the suite of apps so all Veterans and family caregivers have access to them. In the Even though many future, VA will also be releasing a suite of mobile Web applications for Veterans, family caregivers Alaska Native/American and VA clinicians that will be accessible through any Web-enabled device. Indian Veterans living in rural Alaska have access to a tribal health facility in their community, they VISN 11 Pilot Mobile must travel to one of five Prosthetic Vans Roll the Alaska VA clinics—or Distance for Veterans even Seattle—to receive Indiana Veteran David VA care. Alaska tribal Vaughn was thrilled to travel health programs have spe- just six miles to the Terre cial expertise in providing Haute Community Based a full range of culturally Outpatient Clinic for his pros- competent health services thetics appointment, instead to Alaska Natives. of the usual 80-mile trip to The agreement was the Indianapolis VA Medical crafted in consultation Center. “The closer the care with and facilitated by is to the Veteran, the better it the Alaska Native Health is,” Vaughn said. “If I have the Board. VA expanded out- choice, I prefer to get services reach to rural communi- at the outpatient clinics.” sherri deloof ties in 2007 in preparation Vaughn was the first Indiana Veteran David Vaughn, with Occupational Therapist Leslie for the return of Alaska Veteran to take advantage of Mangiapani, was the first Veteran to take advantage of VISN 11’s National Guard troops a pilot program in Veterans mobile prosthetic vans pilot program. who were deployed in sup- Integrated Service Network 11, port of operations in Iraq which sends mobile prosthetic vans to outpatient clinics on a designated schedule. This allows Vet- and Afghanistan. erans who use prosthetics, wheelchairs or diabetic shoes in the northern Michigan, central Illinois The facility goal is and northern, central and west central Indiana areas to be served closer to home. to have 100 trained tribal The mobile prosthetic vans allow VISN 11 to offer seating clinics for wheelchair fittings, shoe Veteran representatives by clinics for diabetic shoes, and orthopedic adjustments at an outpatient clinic. The vans are driven the end of this year. They by either an orthotist or prosthetic fitter, who visit the clinics for the day and offer prosthetic ser- anticipate meeting that vices to Veterans with pre-arranged appointments. The mobile prosthetic vans are equipped with goal with more than 60 specialized prosthetic equipment and tools as well as equipment and supplies for Veterans who individuals already trained. have scheduled appointments.
34 VAnguard • July/August 2012 HaveOUTLOOK You Heard
Gulf Coast Salute Dallas VA Medical Event Honors Vietnam Center Opens Veterans Women’s Imaging For more than a year, the VA Suite Gulf Coast Veterans Health The Dallas VA Medical Center Care System, the City of Mo- has dramatically changed bile, USS Alabama Battleship the way it provides care to Memorial Park, vet centers women Veterans with the and many veterans service or- opening of a women’s imag- ganizations from across the re- ing suite. Procedures offered gion worked tirelessly together in the new suite, such as to plan an event that would screening mammograms, honor Vietnam Veterans. Earlier this year, the digital mammography and breast ultrasound, are now partnership reached their goal, Thomas Coffelt performed more seamlessly with more than 1,200 Viet- In the large shadow cast by the USS Alabama, the VA Gulf Coast nam Veterans, family members Veterans Health Care System and many of its community partners and conveniently, with more and Veteran supporters from held an event to honor Vietnam Veterans at USS Alabama Battleship privacy and less stress for the across the Gulf Coast descend- Memorial Park in Mobile. patient during each stage of ing on USS Alabama Battle- treatment. ship Memorial Park to give Vietnam Veterans the welcome home and appreciation they deserved The private waiting room, during the Gulf Coast Vietnam Veteran Salute event. which is unlike any other VA Rolling Thunder Alabama Chapter 1 led a parade of hundreds of motorcycles, military ve- waiting room, creates a spa- hicles, vans and buses to the park. As the parade made its way through downtown Mobile toward like environment, with its own the park, VA employees and residents of Mobile came out of their homes and lined the streets to cheer for the Veterans. VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System Director Thomas Wisnieski lockers, restroom, TV and was a featured speaker during the event’s opening ceremony. Appreciation, healing, and “never for- coffee bar. It is connected by get your fallen comrades” were common themes throughout his speech and others celebrating the private hallways to the mam- Vietnam Veterans. mography exam room and ultrasound/biopsy room. Now a patient can undergo mul- tiple imaging studies while re- Austin Data Center maining in her gown until her Completes Solar Energy breast exam is completed. Project VA’s Austin data center in- The women’s imaging suite stalled a 15,000-square-foot offers the perfect combina- rooftop solar array, which tion of advanced technology, is capable of generating 200 convenience, personal care kilowatts of electricity on site and consideration of pri- to offset peak demand. “This vacy and is at the forefront of renewable energy project pro- women’s breast care. vides clean, reliable and free In related news, Women electricity to the Austin data wesley patton Veterans Health Care is center, while reducing reliance leading an ongoing culture on fossil fuels and providing The Austin data center installed a 15,000-square-foot rooftop solar change campaign to raise environmental benefits includ- array. ing reductions in greenhouse gas emissions,” said Christopher Shorter, executive director of the VA awareness of women Vet- Office of Information and Technology, Enterprise Operations. erans, their contributions VA’s EO is also implementing a new chilled water-cooling system at the data center that will to the military and the im- improve operating efficiency and save about $300,000 a year in energy costs. EO continues pursu- portance of providing them ing other solutions for reducing electricity consumption, such as leading the effort to consolidate high-quality health care and federal IT equipment, in addition to the 29 tons of plastics, metal and paper recycled annually. services. Download new Through these and other efforts, EO will offset its carbon footprint by more than 10,000 tons a posters and watch a recent year. Under Executive Order 13514, federal agencies must meet a range of energy, water, pollution PSA, “It’s everyone’s job to and waste reduction targets. As a major consumer of electricity, VA data centers have a long histo- care for women Veterans,” at ry of integrating environmental considerations into day-to-day operations and long-term planning. www.womenshealth.va.gov/ culture_change.asp.
VAnguard • July/August 2012 35 Honors
Pittsburgh Researcher Receives Awards from Peers, Army VA/DoD PTSD Rory A. Cooper, Ph.D., director of the VA Center of Excellence in Coach App Wins Wheelchairs and Associated Rehabilitation Engineering and the Hu- Innovation Award for Telemedicine man Engineering Research Laboratories in Pittsburgh, has recently Achievement been awarded two honors—one by his fellow scientists, and one by The VA and Depart- the Army. ment of Defense post-traumatic stress Cooper received the 2011 Mentor Award from the American As- disorder coach mobile sociation for the Advancement of Science for his work in mentoring application marked its underrepresented groups in the science, technology, engineering first anniversary with receipt of an award and mathematics, or STEM, fields. Cooper has mentored more than for innovation in the 200 students at all levels, and more than half of these students have advancement of tele- been women or individuals with disabilities. medicine from the American Telemedicine Cooper also received the U.S. Army Decoration for Distinguished Association. Civilian Service—the highest award given to civilians by the Army— “Using the popu- for his tireless work focusing on Veterans with disabilities, and spe- larity of mobile devices, we can provide impor- cifically for his editorship of the Warrior Transition Leader Medical tant tools to Veterans Rehabilitation Handbook, published by the Army’s Borden Institute. wherever they are, Cooper has been a VA researcher since 1994. whenever they need them, whether or not they receive care through VA or DoD,” said VA Secretary Eric Houston VA Recognized K. Shinseki. for Battle Against Deadly PTSD coach, col- Bacteria laboratively developed The Michael E. DeBakey VA by VA’s National Cen- Medical Center’s “MRSA ter for PTSD and DoD’s Infection Prevention through National Center for Facility-Wide Culture Change Telehealth & Technol- Program” has been judged ogy, provides educa- best in the “Health System” category for the 2011 HAI tion, symptom-tracking WATCHDOG® Awards, tools, self-assessment sponsored by Kimberly-Clark. and connections to The award comes with a support individuals with $1,500 education grant. PTSD. Since its public Methicillin-resistant release on April 11, Staphylococcus aureus, or 2011, the app has been MRSA, is a serious but com- downloaded more than mon bacterium that frequently 53,000 times in more bobbi gruner inhabits the skin or nostrils of than 60 countries. healthy people. Because of its Anthony Quarles (left), Environmental Management Services It is available for resistance to antibiotics com- supervisor, gives a few cleaning tips to David Baham, housekeeper. monly used in treatment, MRSA is one of the most rapidly growing and virulent health care-asso- free download for both ciated infections, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is responsible iPhone and Android for more than 100,000 U.S. hospitalizations each year. devices. For more infor- “We are honored by this recognition for our infection prevention efforts,” said the Houston mation, visit www.ptsd. VA’s Associate Director for Patient Care Services Thelma Gray-Becknell, R.N. “However, we are va.gov/public/pages/ extremely proud that our staff members support each other and are focused on our mission to pro- PTSDCoach.asp. vide the highest quality health care possible to our Veterans.”
36 VAnguard • July/August 2012 OUTLOOKHonors
VA’s Top Technology Man Two Business Recognized for Excellence Office Employees in Leadership Appointed 2012 VA Assistant Secretary for Information and Baldrige National Technology Roger Baker recently received Quality Award top honors for his leadership in information Examiners resources management. Baker received James L. McCorvey and the Executive Leadership in Information Re- Ben C. Keller, both with the sources Management Award June 12 at the Veterans Health Administra- AFFIRM Leadership Awards Luncheon, held at tion’s Chief Business Office for Purchased Care, located in the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C. Denver, have been appointed Under Baker’s direction, VA has been by Dr. Patrick Gallagher, di- setting an example of how agencies can up- rector of the National Institute date and modernize their network infrastruc- of Standards and Technology, ture. He has spearheaded efforts in cloud to the 2012 Board of Examin- adoption and IT systems consolidation. “I ers for the Malcolm Baldrige think a leader has to be the rock that results National Quality Award. are built on in an organization,” Baker said. “A As examiners, they are leader really has to be focused on delivering responsible for reviewing and those results. In the end, results are all that evaluating applications submit- matter.” Baker has been with VA since May ted for the prestigious award. The board of examiners is 2009. Prior to that, he served as president and Roger Baker composed of approximately CEO of Dataline LLC, an IT services and inte- 500 leading experts selected gration company. from industry, professional and trade organizations, edu- cation and health care orga- Singh to Receive Academy nizations, and nonprofits (in- Health Award for Innovative cluding government). Those Research selected must meet the highest standards of qualification and Hardeep Singh, M.D., chief of the health peer recognition. policy and quality program at the Houston VA The award, created by Health Services Research and Development public law in 1987, is the Center of Excellence and assistant profes- highest level of national recog- sor of medicine-health services research at nition for performance excel- Baylor College of Medicine, received the 2012 lence that a U.S. organization Alice S. Hersh New Investigator Award from can receive. The Baldrige AcademyHealth at the society’s annual re- Award may be given annu- search meeting in Orlando, Fla. ally in each of six categories: Singh received the award for his innova- manufacturing, service, small business, education, health tive work in the area of health services re- care and nonprofit. Awards search, including understanding and reducing have been presented to 90 or- medical errors in the outpatient setting, espe- ganizations to date. cially those that involve missed and delayed Information about the diagnosis; use of health information technol- Baldrige Performance Excel- ogy to identify and reduce diagnostic errors; lence Program and the ap- and improving patient safety in electronic plication process is available health record-based health systems. by calling 301-975-2036, AcademyHealth is the leading national sending an e-mail to nqp@nist. organization serving the fields of health ser- gov, or going to the Baldrige vices and policy research. AcademyHealth Program’s website at www.nist. Hardeep Singh, M.D. gov/baldrige. focuses on addressing the current and future needs of an evolving health system, informing health policy, and translating evidence into action.
VAnguard • July/August 2012 37 Honors
VA Doctor Wins High Honor From Internal Tennessee Valley Medicine Society Healthcare System Earlier this year, Dr. Stephan ICU Honored as One Fihn, director of the Office of Nation’s Best of Analytics and Business VA’s Tennessee Val- Intelligence in the Veterans ley Healthcare System Health Administration’s Office was honored May 21 in of Informatics and Analyt- Orlando, Fla., along with ics, received the 2012 Glaser 11 other hospitals in the Award from the Society of nation, by the Critical Care General Internal Medicine. Fihn accepted the award at Societies Collaborative, the society’s annual meeting in in partnership with the Orlando, Fla. Department of Health and The Glaser Award recog- Human Services, for its nizes outstanding contributions efforts to prevent—and to research and education. It is eventually eliminate— supported by grants from the health care-associated Henry J. Kaiser Family Foun- infections. dation, the Commonwealth HAIs are infections Fund, and individual contribu- that are acquired while tors. Fihn is the former direc- Dr. Stephan Fihn patients are receiving tor of VA’s Health Services Research and Development Service Center for Outcomes Research in Older Adults at VA Puget medical treatment for oth- Sound Health Care System and a general internist. His research interests include quality of care, er conditions. At any given particularly in the outpatient setting, and health measurement. time, about one in every 20 patients has an infec- tion related to their hospi- tal care. These infections James A. Haley cost the U.S. health care Veterans’ Hospital system billions of dollars Receives American Pain each year and lead to the Society Award loss of tens of thousands The Comprehensive Pain Center at the James A. Haley of lives. In addition, HAIs Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, can have devastating Fla., received its second Clini- emotional, financial and cal Center of Excellence Award medical consequences. from the American Pain Soci- The Tennessee Val- ety in a presentation held dur- ley VA received the award ing the society’s annual confer- because of the efforts of ence. The facility first received its Medical Intensive Care the award in 2007. Unit staff, who received The Tampa Comprehen- courtesy of american pain society Outstanding Achieve- sive Pain Center is the largest The award-winning staff at the James A. Haley VA’s Comprehensive ment and Leadership in and most comprehensive pain Pain Center in Tampa, Fla., include (left to right): Beverly Cheshire, center in VA and accepts com- Susan Hagan, Dr. Charles Brock, Dr. Michael E. Clark and Dr. Eliminating Ventilator- plex pain referrals from all U.S. Jennifer Murphy. Associated Pneumonia states and territories. and honorable mention for As one of five 2012 awardees and one of two repeat winners (the Division of Pain Medicine Central Line-Associated at Stanford University was the second), the Comprehensive Pain Center had to meet the American Bloodstream Infections. Pain Society’s rigorous criteria for repeat applicants. This required sustained excellence in pain Facilities receiving honor- care, along with continued enhancements in clinical pain services, research, training and commu- able mention in this year’s nity involvement. awards program are listed The Comprehensive Pain Center in Tampa, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2013, online at www.aacn. treats more than 7,200 patients annually. org/2012awards.
38 VAnguard • July/August 2012 OUTLOOKHeroes
Make Way for Ducklings at the St. Louis VA Medical Center On the afternoon of May 27, the St. Louis VA Police re- ceived a phone call reporting several ducklings were trapped inside a storm water drain at the Jefferson Barracks facility. Officers Nick Cornwell and Randy Meyer, along with en- gineer Ryan Duffy, responded. Once on site, they found a hysterical mother hen quack- ing loudly over a drain. The storm drain cover was re- moved, revealing 11 ducklings trapped below. The ducklings Lt. alan tolliver had apparently fallen into the drain as they followed their Left to right: Duck rescuers Ryan Duffy, Nick Cornwell and Randy Meyer. mother over the drain cover. Despite a heat index close to 100 degrees, Cornwell and Duffy descended down the narrow five-foot opening to the bottom of the drain. Once there, the two employees were able to retrieve all 11 ducklings. “My patients were in the windows watching, and applause broke out when they completed their task,” said Registered Nurse Steven R. Menke. “All I could think of on this Memo- rial Day weekend was that if they would go this far for ducklings, I know they have the backs of all the Veterans and employees.” Once back on solid ground, the rescuers noticed the mother duck had wandered off. After canvassing the area, the officers found the mother’s nesting spot in a manicured flower garden behind the hospital’s spinal cord injury unit. The mother and ducklings were then safely reunited.
VA Staff Save 2-Year-Old From Choking Hazard A 2-year-old child accompanying her grandmother to an appointment at the Beaumont Outpatient Clinic in Texas began breathing noisily with noticeable difficulty. Physi- cian Assistant Jane Walston called for help from registered nurses Liz Taylor and Alexis Bevilacqua. Together, they were able to rescue the child with CPR procedures. Apparently, the child had swallowed a piece of hard candy that was blocking her airway. The prompt identification of the problem, combined with the clinic team’s quick response, allowed the child to breathe nor- mally and leave the clinic with her grandmother safe and sound. Left to right: Mary Elizabeth Taylor, Jane Walston and Alexis J. Bevilacqua saved a toddler’s life. fran burke
No Typical Day for Is there ever really a “typical day” at VA? Everyone has normal duties with the occasional bump in Employee Who the road, but it’s how those bumps are handled that is really important. James Manzay, a Veteran as well as a nursing employee at the Dallas VA Medical Center, recently faced such a decision Saves a Veteran’s when a Veteran climbed over the safety glass on the third floor of the clinical addition. Life at the Dallas While Lt. Collier Brocks, Lt. Jeff Carpenter and Sgt. Wayne Benton of the VA Police were on VA Medical Center the scene and speaking to her—encouraging her not to jump—the situation remained at a stand- still. Manzay, who happened to be walking by, offered to talk to her and was able to get her to hold his hand. Standing there hand-in-hand, the two talked for an additional 10 minutes before he was able to convince the Veteran to let VA Police take her other hand and pull her back to safety.
VAnguard • July/August 2012 39