Carle Health team members serve our communities yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Each November, we honor our team members who have served our nation in the military and continue to serve our country in healthcare.
“Every day, our team members answer the call, serving our patients,” Carle Health CEO and President James Leonard, MD, said.
“Before and on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, we highlight specifically our team members who have worn the uniform of the United States,” Dr. Leonard said. More than 500 Carle Health team members are veterans or on active duty.
Carle Health hosts Veterans Day ceremonies
For years, Carle Health has hosted Veterans Day flag-raising ceremonies at several hospitals.
“I am pleased to announce that we will host flag-raisings at all eight Carle Health hospital locations for the second straight year,” Dr. Leonard said. “Some will be simple, solemn flag-raisings. Others will be ceremonies with prayers and remarks. All are open to the public as we honor our veterans and our flag.
They will be at the following hospital locations’ flag poles at:
Carle Health supports team members who are veterans or active duty through Carle MVP (Military and Veteran Professionals), a Carle Inclusion Connection group that serves team members who are veterans, active duty and their allies.
The MVP group is open to active-duty service members, veterans, their families and supporters. Goals are to spotlight the impact of team members who are veterans and active service members, to assist them with professional development opportunities and build camaraderie within that community.
MVP co-leads are Eric Swenson, strategic planning coordinator II for Carle Health Strategy and Development, and Austen Bozarth, Carle Health Business Development Coordinator. Swenson served in Iraq from 2006-07 in the 2nd Infantry Division, as an intelligence analyst during the war against Al-Qaeda. Bozarth is a sergeant in the Illinois Army National Guard.
“Being in the military is a unique shared experience,” Bozarth said. “Creating a space for people to open up about their experiences and network can be therapeutic.”
Carle Health shows its commitment to hiring and retaining service members by supporting the MVP group, Swenson said.
Carle Health team member-veterans demonstrate flexibility and compassion
Charles Morton, MD, developmental pediatrician at Carle Champaign on Curtis clinic, was on active duty in the Air Force from 1983 to 2006 and retired as a colonel. He said military service teaches flexibility, which is vital in healthcare.
“The flexibility allows you to think through problems and change the word from ‘problems’ to ‘challenges,’” Dr. Morton said. “You develop the military attitude of ‘We can do better.’ When you see a problem, you fix it or find another way to get it addressed.”
Having learned in the Air Force to accept new responsibilities, Dr. Morton took on numerous roles with Carle Health over the years and had no problems providing patient care in a variety of settings and communities.
Robert Cavagnol, MD, MHA, FACS, was a trauma surgeon and officer in the United States Navy and served with the Marines in Al-Fallujah, Iraq, during the war against Al-Qaeda. He learned that everyone he treated – Marines, Iraqi Army, insurgents and civilians – was injured, scared, in pain and needed help. Everyone received the same excellent healthcare.
“I learned to be agile and adapt to situations,” said Dr. Cavagnol, Carle Health Central Region president, overseeing operations at Carle BroMenn Medical Center, Carle Eureka Hospital and affiliated outpatient clinics in the Bloomington-Normal and Eureka areas. He carried that over into his healthcare career, where he has adapted to different jobs and communities.
Dr. Cavagnol said Carle Health veterans help to advance the healthcare system’s mission.
“Carle Health has been a fantastic place to work,” Dr. Morton said. “Like in the military, people here work well together.”
Join a team that works together to advance the mission
Do you want to work for a healthcare organization whose team members advance the mission? If so, click here.
Each November, we honor our team members who have served our nation in the military and continue to serve our country in healthcare.
“Every day, our team members answer the call, serving our patients,” Carle Health CEO and President James Leonard, MD, said.
“Before and on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, we highlight specifically our team members who have worn the uniform of the United States,” Dr. Leonard said. More than 500 Carle Health team members are veterans or on active duty.
Carle Health hosts Veterans Day ceremonies
For years, Carle Health has hosted Veterans Day flag-raising ceremonies at several hospitals.
“I am pleased to announce that we will host flag-raisings at all eight Carle Health hospital locations for the second straight year,” Dr. Leonard said. “Some will be simple, solemn flag-raisings. Others will be ceremonies with prayers and remarks. All are open to the public as we honor our veterans and our flag.
They will be at the following hospital locations’ flag poles at:
- 7:45 a.m. at Carle Hoopeston Regional Health Center, Hoopeston.
- 8 a.m. at Carle Eureka Hospital, Eureka.
- 8 a.m. at Carle Health Pekin Hospital, Pekin.
- 9 a.m. at Carle Health Methodist – Proctor Campus, Peoria.
- 11 a.m. at Carle Richland Memorial Hospital, Olney.
- Noon at Carle Foundation Hospital Heart and Vascular Institute entrance, Urbana.
- 12:30 p.m. at Carle Health Methodist Hospital, Peoria.
- 1:30 p.m. at Carle BroMenn Medical Center, Normal.
Carle Health supports team members who are veterans or active duty through Carle MVP (Military and Veteran Professionals), a Carle Inclusion Connection group that serves team members who are veterans, active duty and their allies.
The MVP group is open to active-duty service members, veterans, their families and supporters. Goals are to spotlight the impact of team members who are veterans and active service members, to assist them with professional development opportunities and build camaraderie within that community.
MVP co-leads are Eric Swenson, strategic planning coordinator II for Carle Health Strategy and Development, and Austen Bozarth, Carle Health Business Development Coordinator. Swenson served in Iraq from 2006-07 in the 2nd Infantry Division, as an intelligence analyst during the war against Al-Qaeda. Bozarth is a sergeant in the Illinois Army National Guard.
“Being in the military is a unique shared experience,” Bozarth said. “Creating a space for people to open up about their experiences and network can be therapeutic.”
Carle Health shows its commitment to hiring and retaining service members by supporting the MVP group, Swenson said.
Carle Health team member-veterans demonstrate flexibility and compassion
Charles Morton, MD, developmental pediatrician at Carle Champaign on Curtis clinic, was on active duty in the Air Force from 1983 to 2006 and retired as a colonel. He said military service teaches flexibility, which is vital in healthcare.
“The flexibility allows you to think through problems and change the word from ‘problems’ to ‘challenges,’” Dr. Morton said. “You develop the military attitude of ‘We can do better.’ When you see a problem, you fix it or find another way to get it addressed.”
Having learned in the Air Force to accept new responsibilities, Dr. Morton took on numerous roles with Carle Health over the years and had no problems providing patient care in a variety of settings and communities.
Robert Cavagnol, MD, MHA, FACS, was a trauma surgeon and officer in the United States Navy and served with the Marines in Al-Fallujah, Iraq, during the war against Al-Qaeda. He learned that everyone he treated – Marines, Iraqi Army, insurgents and civilians – was injured, scared, in pain and needed help. Everyone received the same excellent healthcare.
“I learned to be agile and adapt to situations,” said Dr. Cavagnol, Carle Health Central Region president, overseeing operations at Carle BroMenn Medical Center, Carle Eureka Hospital and affiliated outpatient clinics in the Bloomington-Normal and Eureka areas. He carried that over into his healthcare career, where he has adapted to different jobs and communities.
Dr. Cavagnol said Carle Health veterans help to advance the healthcare system’s mission.
“Carle Health has been a fantastic place to work,” Dr. Morton said. “Like in the military, people here work well together.”
Join a team that works together to advance the mission
Do you want to work for a healthcare organization whose team members advance the mission? If so, click here.
Categories: Culture of Quality
Tags: BroMenn, ceremonies, CIC, Eureka, flag-raising, MVP, pediatrics, veterans