VA Photos of the Week – August 30, 2019

Army Vietnam Veteran and Purple Heart recipient Dave Andrews etches names of friends killed during the Vietnam War. Andrews was shot in the leg two months into his tour in Vietnam. He was one of 80 Veterans who traveled to Washington, D.C., as part of the Honor Flight of the Ozarks trip from Springfield, Missouri. Photo by Adam Stump, public affairs specialist for VA’s Digital Media Engagement team.

Restorative Therapy Technician Maria Pullins assists one Veteran as fellow therapist Jovany Mejias-Negron leads a group of Veterans from the Dallas VAMC Community Living Center in a series of leg exercises designed to maintain mobility. Pullins and Mejias-Negron lead the exercise group every day and have been at for a combined 24 years. Photo by Michael Cole, public affairs specialist at
VA North Texas Health Care System.

Acting Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, James Byrne, visited the South Texas Veterans Health Care System in San Antonio, Texas, August 28. He toured the building and met staff and visited with Veterans like Spinal Cord Injury Unit patient, David Cromwell. Photo by Steve Goetsch.

Martinsburg VA’s 8th Annual Heroes Games medal ceremony. The games concluded with 9 ball and pickleball. Recreational therapy engages Veterans in physical and mental wellness – an active part of their whole health! Photo by Martinsburg VA staff.

South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) Certified Nurse’s Assistant, Sueli Da Silva Baron (holding certificate) was awarded the “Good Catch” award. The patient safety office started the program a few years prior to recognize employees that went above and beyond to ensure patient safety. STVHCS was recently selected as one of the pilot High Reliability Organizations (HRO). Sueli earned her award when she took the stairs to go down to another ward. Unbeknownst to her, the simulation center had placed “Willie Makeit” in the stairwell. “At first sight, I thought it was a real person by themselves,” Sueli said. “I told the nutritionist behind me to go get help and I began CPR.” The simulation team said her response was rapid and efficient. There was an update that Mr. Makeit pulled through and was released after a short observation period. Photo by Steven Goetsch, public affairs specialist at the South Texas VA.