Dr. D’s “Walk It Out” and “Talk It Out” give Eastern Oklahoma VA employees a voice

Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System (EOVAHCS) Director, Dr. Kimberly Denning, affectionately called “Dr. D,” launched Walk It Out and Talk It Out to give employees a platform to discuss workplace concerns, share ideas and focus on their well-being.  

In warmer months, staff can join her for a walk and a chat outside. If it’s cold or the weather’s bad, the conversation moves inside, and employees can join online.  

“Employees set the topics,” Dr. Denning said. “They need to feel listened to and have a way to connect with leadership.”

Soldier to director  

Before joining VA, Dr. Denning served as a military police officer in the U.S. Army from 1993 to 2002. After leaving active duty, she worked at a community hospital, where a fellow Veteran encouraged her to apply at VA. 

 “He brought me an application and sat with me while I filled it out,” she said. “A week later, I had an interview—and I’ve been with VA ever since.” 

She joined VA in 2007, and, over the course of her career, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Marian University, a Master of Science in Nursing from Anderson University and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Duquesne University.

Today, Dr. Denning leads one of the region’s largest and most complex health care systems. She oversees care for approximately 52,000 Veterans throughout 25 counties, manages a $420 million annual budget and leads over 1,800 employees across VA clinics in Muskogee, Tulsa, McAlester, Claremore, Vinita, Bartlesville and Idabel.

Shaped by service  

What drives her now is the same thing that drove her during her military service: looking out for her people. 

Dr. Denning leads with humility, openness and what she calls an “inverted pyramid” mindset. 

“I see myself at the bottom,” she said. “The employees are at the top. They’re the ones driving change. I help make space for it.”

She says being in the Army taught her to read people, stay steady under pressure and lead from the front. On the other hand, nursing taught her to listen and hear people out.

“You can’t push culture in an email,” she said. “You’ve got to be present. Let people ask the hard stuff. Let them see who you are.”

An open-door policy

Since arriving at Eastern Oklahoma VA in 2022, Dr. Denning has encouraged employees to care for themselves in a high-demand environment.

“The staff cannot be successful if they don’t also care for themselves,” she said.

Dr. Denning said her leadership style is rooted in accessibility.

“I don’t like positional authority,” she said. “Just because I’m the director doesn’t mean I’m unapproachable. If employees don’t feel comfortable talking to me, they won’t tell me what’s broken.”

Dr. Denning believes in listening, showing up, and leading from the front, as she often did in the Army.

“A leader who shows vulnerability is a leader who shows people, ‘Hey, I’m human—and so are you,’” she said.

A space for honest conversation  

For Saundra Vaughn, a human resources specialist at Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center, Talk It Out has been an opportunity to raise concerns and hear directly from leadership.  

“It is nice to have Dr. Denning be transparent and care about how her employees are doing,” Vaughn said.  

She recalled how the sessions helped during a period of uncertainty.  

“The most memorable moment has been the last few Talk It Out sessions,” she said. “Things have been unstable, but hearing Dr. Denning, with her calmness, assures us that she is fighting for us in every way.”

Whole Health, whole team  

Thanks to the consistency of these sessions, Whole Health Coordinator Joan McWilliams has experienced a lasting impact.

"Only one other time in my 16-year VA career has an executive leader created and maintained open doors of communication,” McWilliams said.

McWilliams joined the sessions out of curiosity, unsure how interactive they would be. Now, she brings questions regularly and sees the effect Dr. Denning’s leadership has on the culture. 

“It no longer stands out that ‘one time,’ I got to talk to the director and had her make eye contact with me and answer my question,” she said. “That’s the new norm here.” 

McWilliams said the initiative has made her feel more connected to the larger mission. 

“It helps me feel like we’re working as a team at all levels,” she said. “It’s not instructions being pushed down or metrics being checked off—We all have a part in making this the best place to work and providing the best care for Veterans anywhere.”

Listening leads to action  

The sessions aren’t just for airing concerns—they often lead to real solutions.  

Dr. Denning shared an example of an employee who found a way to save the facility a significant amount of money. 

“One employee told me, ‘I think I can save you about a million dollars,’” Dr. Denning said. “I told her, ‘Come see me.’ She brought the paperwork. And she was right.” 

By listening to employees, Dr. Denning says VA can improve its systems and create a better experience for Veterans.

“When employees are engaged, they go above and beyond,” she said. “That pride shows up in our customer service. Our Veterans notice.”

Leadership focused on people  

Dr. Denning encourages all staff to participate in Walk It Out and Talk It Out and says she’ll continue creating space for honest feedback and shared ownership of VA's mission.  

“These sessions give us peace of mind,” Vaughn said. “Having a real opportunity to air concerns and feelings helps with stability and work satisfaction.”

Jesus Flores is a writer and editor on the VISN 19 Creative Task Force and a Marine Corps Veteran.