{"id":429,"date":"2024-10-02T05:49:24","date_gmt":"2024-10-02T09:49:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/icare\/?p=429"},"modified":"2024-10-02T05:58:37","modified_gmt":"2024-10-02T09:58:37","slug":"2024-va-secretarys-honor-award-for-i-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/icare\/2024-va-secretarys-honor-award-for-i-care\/","title":{"rendered":"2024 VA Secretary\u2019s Honor Award for I CARE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The 2024 Secretary\u2019s Honor Award for I CARE recognizes exemplary employees who have demonstrated sustained performance or a specific act of noteworthy nature relative to the Department\u2019s core values of\u00a0Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence<\/strong>\u00a0(I CARE). Acts potentially warranting recognition include going above and beyond normal practice in their role to care for and serve our Nation\u2019s Veterans, their families, caregivers, survivors, or fellow employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Awardees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

VHA recognizes Daryl Ferguson and Joshua Anderson, Environmental Management Services (EMS) at the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center, for displaying true characteristics of servant leaders. In August 2023, they helped address the well-being of a Veteran in distress. They made multiple contacts to the Veteran, who is also a front-line EMS employee, to ensure he received the care he needed. Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Anderson exemplify dedication to duty, perseverance, concern, and respect for their fellow human being, fellow employee, and Veteran. Their willingness to serve above and beyond epitomizes VA’s I CARE principles and values.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Pictured (left to right): Honorable Tanya Bradsher, VA Deputy Secretary; Joshua Anderson, EMS Supervisor; Dr. Gerard Cox, Assistant Under Secretary for Health; Barbara Morton, Acting Chief Veterans Experience Officer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

VHA recognizes Sharon Ford, Group Practice Manager at the Phoenix VA Health Care System. Ms. Ford\u2019s immense contributions in this role have positively impacted Veteran access to quality, timely care by providing facility-level guidance on program and resource productivity, efficiency, and return on investment. Her passion as an advocate for Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors is a true reflection of VA\u2019s I CARE principles.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Pictured (left to right): Honorable Tanya Bradsher, VA Deputy Secretary; Sharon Ford, Group Practice Manager, Phoenix VA Health Care System; Dr. Gerard Cox, Assistant Under Secretary for Health; Barbara Morton, Acting Chief Veterans Experience Officer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

VHA recognizes Barbara Forsha, Executive Director of the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center, for her work in strengthening staff, addressing customer concerns, and improving employee engagement. Ms. Forsha, who cultivates a customer-focused culture and places patient safety at the forefront, positively impacted Veterans and the VA community and exemplifies VA\u2019s I CARE values.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Pictured
Pictured (left to right): Honorable Tanya Bradsher, VA Deputy Secretary; Barbara Forsha, Executive Director of the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center; Dr. Gerard Cox, Assistant Under Secretary for Health; Barbara Morton, Acting Chief Veterans Experience Officer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Awardees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The VBA recipient is Maureen Elias, Senior Advisor for Benefits. Her conscientious and compassionate service; honest, transparent, and ethical application of laws and regulations in delivering benefits; authentic interactions; and reliable, trustworthy advice allow VBA to advance decision-making, provide exceptional customer experiences, and positively impact Veterans and the VA community. Ms. Elias, who consistently exhibits respect and concern for others, embodies VA\u2019s I CARE values.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Pictured (left to right): Honorable Tanya Bradsher, VA Deputy Secretary; Ms. Maureen Elias, Senior Advisor; Joshua Jacobs, Under Secretary for Benefits; Barbara Morton, Acting Chief Veterans Experience Officer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

National Cemetery Administration (NCA) Awardees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

NCA recognizes the Workers\u2019 Compensation Team\u2014Kimberly Harvey, Winnie Binyam, Kendrick Rutland, Jean Kim, and Luis Rami\u2014for top-notch customer service. The team consistently exceeds VA targets for timely filing of injury and illness notices, wage loss claims, and return-to-work rates, underscoring their dedication to excellence and commitment to VA’s I CARE values.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Pictured
Pictured (left to right): Honorable Tanya Bradsher, VA Deputy Secretary; Kimberly Harvey, Winnie Binyam, Kendrick Rutland, and Luis Rami from the NCA Workers\u2019 Compensation Team; Ron Walters, Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs; Barbara Morton, Acting Chief Veterans Experience Officer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Board of Veterans\u2019 Appeals (Board) Awardees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Board recognizes John Jones, Veterans Law Judge, for his leadership as the current Acting Chief Counsel while simultaneously a team of six drafting attorneys. His team signed nearly 850 appeals decisions over the past 10 months, and he has played an active role in the Board\u2019s Law School Outreach Program, advocating for future Board employees.\u00a0 His willingness and dedication to serve above and beyond epitomize VA’s I CARE values.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Pictured (left to right): Honorable Tanya Bradsher, VA Deputy Secretary; John Jones, Acting Chief Counsel; Chris Santoro, Board Senior Deputy Vice Chairman; Barbara Morton, Acting Chief Veterans Experience Officer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Office of Information and Technology (OIT) Awardees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The OIT recipient is Merissa Larson, Executive Director of Risk and Remediation. Ms. Larson is recognized for bringing VA into compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Her efforts include working closely with Congress and agencies across federal government to implement the Section 508 Playbook for Program Maturity. Ms. Larson\u2019s leadership and commitment to VA’s I CARE values helped improve access to VA digital information, technology, and services for millions of Veterans and VA employees.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Pictured (left to right): Honorable Tanya Bradsher, VA Deputy Secretary; Merissa Larson, Executive Director of Risk and Remediation; John Oswalt, Deputy Chief Information Officer; Barbara Morton, Acting Chief Veterans Experience Officer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 2023 Secretary\u2019s Honor Award for I CARE recognizes exemplary employees who have demonstrated sustained performance or a specific act of noteworthy nature relative to the Department\u2019s core values of\u00a0Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"i-care-value":[],"class_list":["post-429","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-honor-award"],"acf":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/icare\/2024-va-secretarys-honor-award-for-i-care\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"2024 VA Secretary\u2019s Honor Award for I CARE","url":"http:\/\/department.va.gov\/icare\/2024-va-secretarys-honor-award-for-i-care\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/department.va.gov\/icare\/2024-va-secretarys-honor-award-for-i-care\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":""},"articleSection":"Honor Award","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs"}],"creator":["U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"I CARE","logo":""},"keywords":[],"dateCreated":"2024-10-02T09:49:24Z","datePublished":"2024-10-02T09:49:24Z","dateModified":"2024-10-02T09:58:37Z"},"rendered":"