Bay Pines VA Peer Specialist Competing for National VA Honor

Lee, who earned the healthcare system’s top honor a few months ago was notified late last week that he had also been selected as the top peer specialist throughout VISN 8 – which includes the North Florida/South Georgia, Tampa, Orlando, Miami, West Palm Beach, and Caribbean VA Healthcare Systems.

Bay Pines VA Healthcare System leaders received official word, Wednesday, July 19, from VISN 8 Chief Mental Health Officer Dr. Carri-Ann M. Gibson.

“It is with great pride and appreciation that we recognize your leadership, commitment to messaging the critical importance of peer specialists, and your compassion for serving Veterans at Bay Pines VA Medical Center and throughout VISN 8,” stated VISN 8 Chief Mental Health Officer Dr. Carri-Ann M. Gibson in her official correspondence with Lee.” You are an inspiration to our mental health teams, community partners, and our Veterans.”

Lee joined Bay Pines VA Healthcare System in April 2021. He served 13 years in the U.S. Army, from 1985-1995 and again from 2002-2004 before receiving a medical discharge. During his second tour, Lee deployed to Iraq in 2003, as part of III Corps’ 485th Corps Support Battalion, as a logistics specialist. 

His reaction upon learning of his selection reflects all you need to know about why he has earned this recognition.

“I’ve been working a lot with Veterans in the community, and I forgot all about competing at the VISN 8 level,” admitted Lee. “I was really shocked when I found out they selected me.”

Peer specialists are Veteran employees who use their personal, shared experiences to build professional relationships with other Veterans and promote opportunities to help those they serve identify and reach goals for recovery and wellness.

“Randy’s title here may be peer specialist – but he, like all peer specialists working across our healthcare system is actually a champion for Veterans,” said Dr. Rod Velezmoro, chief, behavioral health and mental health services, Bay Pines VA Healthcare System.

Lee was nominated by leadership for his unwavering efforts to explore and capitalize on opportunities to network across the healthcare system and with community partners to foster positive experience for Veterans and lay a path to make their road to recovery easier.

Over the past year, Lee worked with ZERO Suicide Partnership of Pinellas Coffee Social Committee and served as the co-lead of the Bay Pines VA Veterans Only Coffee Socials. He also collaborated with the Pinellas County Crisis Intervention Team, Bay Pines VA Healthcare System Suicide Prevention and PTSD clinical teams and developed a mentoring program for Veterans enrolled in mental health residential treatment programs.

“I learned to give back when I went through the program here at Bay Pines VA,” said Lee. “Now I get to do that help Veterans reach their ultimate goal which is having a great quality of life.”

 Bay Pines VA Healthcare System is a regional center of excellence for Veteran-focused mental health care. Learn more about the comprehensive behavioral health program and services available here.

Robert Frazier, Public Affairs Officer

Medina Ayala-Lo, Public Affairs Officer