Leaders Announce Bay Pines VA Healthcare System Employee of the Year

Bay Pines VA Healthcare System Executive Leaders announced Trena Frederiksen as the 2023 Employee of the Year, during the organization’s Employee Town Hall, Jan. 25.  

Frederiksen is a Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) Medical Instrument Technician (MIT) and has worked in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab (Cath Lab) at Bay Pines VA for the last nine years.

“I work with cardiologists to diagnose and treat blocked arteries in the heart,” said Frederiksen. “I also help our electrophysiologists place pacemakers and treat abnormal heart rhythms.”

Being selected as the Bay Pines VA’s Employee of the Year came as a surprise to Frederiksen.

“This is a fantastic honor. I am humbled to be selected from among the many outstanding employees here,” Frederiksen shared. “I also feel very proud that all the hard work and long hours leading to my winning this prestigious award.”

Frederiksen was nominated for this award by one of her supervisors, Bay Pines VA Assistant Nurse Manager of Interventional and Specialty Care Angela Schell.

“From the first day I met Ms. Frederiksen, I knew she was someone I could trust and truly depend on,” said Schell.  “Anyone who knows her can sense that she loves her job and looks forward to coming here and doing her best. She is an inspiration, and it is an honor to work with her.”

According to Schell, Frederiksen’s contributions extend far beyond her standard responsibilities, and positively impact patient outcomes and the overall efficiency and effectiveness of their department.

“She is the one who people consistently look to for help, and she actively participates in all facets of the Cath Lab,” Schell stated. “This includes training new staff; ensuring stock is available and up to date; and confirming broken equipment is addressed in a timely manner. Her colleagues rely on her because they know she will go above and beyond to make sure everyone has what they need.”

Schell continued, “Even on her days off, she chooses to come and help in acute care by sitting with patients who require close observation. Ms. Frederiksen reads to the Veterans and engages them with activities that help distract them. She consistently goes above and beyond to make her patients feel valued and cared for.”

Frederiksen has worked at Bay Pines VA for more than 35 years and, according to Schell, the experience she brings to the cardiac Cath Lab has made her an invaluable part of the team.

“Working with America’s Veterans who are suffering with heart disease is difficult at times, but being able to offer them hope that they will feel better after leaving the Cath Lab is a great feeling,” Frederiksen shared. “The most rewarding thing I do here is helping Veterans who are having a heart attack. Being able to relieve the pain and suffering of a heart attack, and possibly save their life by opening a blocked artery, is an immensely rewarding part of the job!”