May/June 2011 After the Storm Military Cultural Awareness Training Amputee Softball Team VA and Its Academic Partners Features One Woman Veteran’s ‘Don’t Quit’ Message 6 Paraplegic veteran and VA patient Kate Callahan is an elite athlete Coaching Wounded Warriors to Gold 7 VA Palo Alto’s Rod Williams is an inspiration to everyone around him 4 To Know Them is to Serve Them Better 8 Understanding military culture has never been more important A Game of Their Own 11 The first-ever all-amputee standing slow pitch softball team forms Preventing Patient Violence in VA Health Care 14 VA is taking a systematic approach to dealing with the issue Helping Families Living With Brain Injury 16 An informal support group has grown into a national organization From Iraq to Homeless to Homeless Advocate 18 18 A former homeless veteran now helps others get back on their feet After the Storm 20 In the aftermath of a deadly tornado, the Tuscaloosa VA steps up to help VA and Its Academic Partners 22 United by a common commitment to veterans’ health Departments 3 Feedback 33 Have You Heard 26 4 News You Can Use 36 Honors 26 Around Headquarters 39 Heroes 30 Introducing 40 Winter Clinic 31 Medical Advances VAnguard VA’s Employee Magazine May/June 2011 Vol. LVII, No. 3 On the cover Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center employees Editor: Lisa Gaegler and spouses Jeff and Cassie Munford stand Assistant Editor/Senior Writer: Gary Hicks in the backyard of their home, which was Photo Editor: Robert Turtil destroyed in the tornado that ripped Staff Writer: Amanda Hester through the Alabama city on April 27. Their neighbor’s cars can be seen piled on top of Published by the Office of Public Affairs (80D) each other in the background. Despite the fact that many Tuscaloosa VA employees, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs like the Munfords, were personally affected 810 Vermont Ave., N.W. by the storm, they pitched in to help the Washington, D.C. 20420 community recover from the disaster. (202) 461-7427 photo by April Jones E-mail: [email protected] www.va.gov/opa/publications/vanguard.asp 2 VAnguard • May/June 2011 FEEDBACKOUTLOOKFEEDBACK Keeper of VA’s History gestures, and with the assis- his presentation, we were able photographer for KUTV in Our thanks for the News You tance of a vocational rehabili- to ask questions and learn ba- Salt Lake City. After watching Can Use article in the March/ tation and education officer sic signs to communicate daily a report on our news about April issue, “You’re a Keeper who knows sign language and with Debbie and David. They employees of Dugway Prov- of VA’s History,” which serves attended my team meetings. will soon have a P3 Netbook, ing Ground being accidentally to remind us that VA is in- I convinced myself that was furnished by the Computer/ exposed to nerve agent during deed the caretaker of some of good enough, but I always Electronic Accommodations testing activities, a veteran, America’s most historic (and knew something was missing. Program, or CAP, installed Paul Cooper, called the news- endangered) properties related I made an effort to ensure at their workstations. The P3 room with his story about to the birth of this nation’s that Debbie and David un- Netbook will allow them to witnessing an atomic test commitment to the health care derstood me, but I knew they communicate via videophone (the test was called Smokey) of its veterans. were somewhat left out of the on all phone call-related issues while in the Army. We took Including an image of everyday social interaction that for VA or notifications to their the information and the next “Old Main,” the iconic sol- helps solidify the team and office managers for work or day, a reporter and I paid Mr. diers’ residence in the Historic build camaraderie. I knew my personal issues 24 hours a day, Cooper a visit at the Salt Lake Soldiers Home District (soon hearing employees included seven days a week. City VA. He was an inpatient to be Landmark) of the Mil- them in some of this social Debbie and David now on the oncology ward being waukee VA grounds, was espe- interaction, but I also knew we regularly show the staff and treated for leukemia. cially relevant, as it is the most had a long way to go in break- me different signs each day. The story he told us left substantially intact of the three ing down communication bar- Learning a new language has us stunned. They were sent original soldiers’ homes estab- riers in our team environment. been exciting and fun for all into the desert and witnessed lished at the conclusion of the When Ron Burke, di- of us. Our staff will soon be the blast from trenches, and Civil War. The Soldiers Home rector of the Appeals Man- observing a day of silence. shortly afterward were put Foundation is proud to part- agement Center, offered to Throughout the day, the staff in formation and marched ner with VA in the restoration arrange for our team to partici- will communicate via sign lan- through the ground-zero area. and return to service of the pate in a six-hour on-site semi- guage. This will be a challenge That Saturday evening, entire district, beginning with nar provided by the Birnbaum for all of us, but we are look- his story ran on “NBC Nightly a soon-to-be-accomplished en- Interpreting Service, I was ing forward to the experience. News” and was the start of hanced use lease to restore the elated. BIS is a deaf-owned As we move forward, we are the atomic veterans story. We 1889 Home Chapel. and operated company offer- learning to celebrate our differ- continued to report on Mr. Jim Duff ing sign language interpreting ences and break down any bar- Cooper until he lost his battle President services for government, health riers that threaten the strength with leukemia the next spring. Mary Panzer care, legal, religious, business of our team. I covered his funeral and still Vice President and entertainment environ- Teresa Martin have one of the brass cartridges Soldiers Home Foundation ments. From this seminar, our Division Chief that was fired in salute for my Milwaukee team was educated on some Appeals Management friend Paul Cooper. interesting facts about the Center Now, as a VA employee, Deaf Awareness: daily lives and struggles of deaf Washington, D.C. I take pride in the fact that Breaking Down Barriers people. I was there when this story As the division chief of Sup- We did not know that Atomic Veterans broke and also that it started at port Services at the Appeals people with hearing loss form I read with interest the article a VA hospital, the one in Salt Management Center in Wash- the largest disability group about atomic veterans (“Atom- Lake City. ington, D.C., communication in the country. In addition ic Veterans: Blasts from the Scott Jackson is an essential element of my to the 4,000 to 5,000 babies Past Still Reverberate,” March/ Chief, Support Services successful interaction with who are born deaf every year, April issue). A couple of re- George E. Wahlen the staff. When I arrived, I many people suffer injuries or lated notes on that article. VA Medical Center had one “hearing impaired” illnesses that cause deafness. In 1978, I was a news Salt Lake City employee, Debbie Cannady. Deaf people find some terms Debbie has been with VA for limiting because they fail to 28 years. A few months later, describe the sociological im- We Want to Hear from You David Bernard transferred plications of deafness. Labels Have a comment on something you’ve seen in VAnguard? in from San Diego. I would like “hearing impaired,” “deaf We invite reader feedback. Send your comments to van- soon learn the term “hearing and dumb” or “deaf mute” are [email protected]. You can also write to us at: VAnguard, Office impaired” is not an acceptable considered undesirable because of Public Affairs (80D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 label in the deaf community. they refer to a presumed dis- Vermont Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C., 20420. Include I told myself I can work ability. your name, title and VA facility. We may need to edit your around this. I communicated After David Birnbaum, letter for length or clarity. with them via e-mail, notes, founder and CEO of BIS, gave VAnguard • May/June 2011 3 NEWS YOU CAN USE ‘A Permanent Commitment to the Environment’ at Altoona VA The James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona, Pa., was honored with a “Part- ner Recognition” award by Practice Greenhealth, a na- tional organization for health care facilities committed to environmentally responsible operations. The award is given each year to honor outstanding environmental achievements in the health care sector. “This VA medical center has been singled out for their efforts to protect patient health and preserve the environ- ment,” said Anna Gilmore Hall, executive director of Practice Greenhealth. “Their approach to health care dem- onstrates a keen understanding of the impact our activities ANDREA YOUNG have on the environment and Tim Blackburn, GEMS coordinator at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona, Pa., releases a commitment to build on the “fat-head minnows” into a pond that is part of a new stormwater treatment system that reduces runoff achievements they have made into the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The minnows will consume mosquitoes and also serve as food for so far.” the larger fish that will be added to the pond.