Honoring 43 Years of Service: The Legacy of Darlene Giles
By Wyatt Anthony, Public Affairs Specialist
When Darlene Giles walked into Building 10 on Aug. 2, 1982, for her first day as a GS-5 Medical Technologist, she had no idea the building where she took her oath would one day become home to Primary Care, or that she'd dedicate the next 43 years of her career to the Columbia VA Health Care System.
“I was sworn in as a VA employee in Building 10,” Giles recalled. “It was the Personnel building back then, before it was renamed HR. Now, it’s being transformed again for Primary Care.”
Fresh from Duluth, Minnesota, Giles joined Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center because it offered her something rare — a day-shift position. But what kept her there for more than four decades, she said, was the growing sense of purpose that came with caring for America’s Veterans.
“I’m the daughter of a World War II Veteran and married to the son of an Army Chaplain,” she said. “Over time, I developed a deep appreciation for our mission and the unique patients we serve.”
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A Career Built on Growth and Service
Giles spent her entire VA career within the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service, but her roles evolved continuously.
She became the Chemistry/Urinalysis Supervisor in 1989 and, by 1994, was selected as the Ancillary Testing Coordinator, overseeing quality standards for all lab work performed outside the main laboratory. That same year, she helped launch the facility’s first Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Lab, a breakthrough initiative that placed Columbia at the forefront of diagnostic testing.
“That first lab was very basic,” Giles remembered. “We started with Chlamydia and Gonorrhea testing for Fort Jackson, then later became the first in the state certified to perform HIV Viral Load testing.”
When funding was at risk years later, Giles prepared a detailed cost-benefit analysis that convinced leadership to keep the lab operational. Her foresight ensured the facility could respond rapidly to future public health needs.
Over time, the PCR lab evolved into a cornerstone of Columbia VA’s testing capability — playing a vital role during the Hepatitis C initiative and later during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Columbia VA became the primary testing site for the entire VISN 7 network.
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Leading Through Change
During her 43 years, Giles witnessed profound changes in medicine and in VA’s culture.
“In 1982, WJB Dorn was a 460-bed inpatient facility with an attached nursing home. There were no computers, no outpatient clinics,” she said. “Lab orders were written on paper with carbon copies and tubed to the wards. Now, everything is integrated and Veteran-focused.”
From paper slips to electronic records, from manual assays to automated analyzers, she adapted to every shift in technology — and helped others do the same.
Her leadership and institutional knowledge earned admiration across the organization.
“Darlene has always been a highly competent, calm, and go-to person in the lab,” said Dr. Ruth Mustard, Associate Director for Nursing and Patient Services. “Her leadership during the COVID pandemic stands out the most. Our lab was a leader in testing. Her communication, support, and can-do attitude made all the difference.”
Dr. Mustard said employees like Giles embody the backbone of the medical center.
“The institutional knowledge, relationships, and attitude of leaders like Darlene have set the example for thousands of staff,” she said. “Her team will ask themselves, ‘What would Darlene do?’ for years to come.”
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A Legacy of Mentorship and Music
Throughout her career, Giles found joy not only in laboratory innovation but also in mentoring others. She encouraged new employees to seek out leadership training, take on new challenges, and never stop learning.
“Volunteer for new opportunities,” she advised. “Each one helps you grow and develop connections across VA.”
Outside of work, Giles nourished her spirit through music and service. She played clarinet in church and community bands, including the Camden Community Concert Band and the Armed Service Veterans Band, and she spent 15 years using her vacation time for medical mission trips to Nicaragua. There, she performed testing for patients in remote clinics and even smuggled a microscope through customs to teach local doctors diagnostic skills.
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Looking Back, Moving Forward
As she prepared to retire, Giles reflected on what she would miss most: the people and the shared experiences that bound them together.
“We’ve been through so much together — Hurricane Hugo, the 100-year flood, the pandemic,” she said. “I’ll miss the camaraderie, the Veterans, and the teamwork.”
She looked forward to traveling, spending time with loved ones, and continuing to make music.
Dr. Mustard summed up Giles’s legacy best:
“She has left her mark,” Mustard said. “Her work and dedication made a huge difference for our Veterans and our staff. Her VA family loves her, and we will miss her dearly. Darlene’s influence will continue to resonate in every test run, every standard upheld, and every Veteran served.”
For more information about what’s going on at the Veterans medical center, clinic locations, and other services available to Veterans in and around Columbia, visit the website https://www.va.gov/columbia-south-carolina-health-care/ and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, keyword: VAColumbiaSC.