GCVHCS Announces 2021 Employees of the Year

GCVHCS Audiology and Speech Pathology Service Chief Dr. Margaret Peak was recognized as the organization 2021 Service Chief of the Year; GCVHCS Social Worker Alita Harmon was named the organization 2021 Supervisor of the Year; and GCVHCS Police Service Maj. Wayne McDowell was named the GCVHCS 2021 Employee of the Year.

Additionally, GCVHCS Community and Public Affairs Service Patient Advocate Daniel Higgins was recognized during the ceremony as the December 2021 GCVHCS Employee of the Month.

Peak, the 2021 GCVHCS Service Chief of the Year, oversees the GCVHCS Audiology and Speech Pathology program, with audiology clinics at the Biloxi, Mississippi; Mobile, Alabama; and Pensacola and Panama City Beach, Florida, GCVHCS locations.

“Her wealth of information and experience and ability to focus on her department's and the VA's needs - the GCVHCS goals, the staff and most importantly our Veterans - allows us to provide the best speech and hearing care," said Biloxi VA Medical Center Audiologist Paula Winebrinner. "She continues to develop staff education which directly impacts our ability to ensure Veterans continue receiving quality care.”

Harmon, the 2021 GCVHCS Supervisor of the Year, supervises individuals at each of the GCVHCS locations, ensuring the organization’s social work service employees function as a cohesive unit.

“She’s very aware of how systems and process affect the VA and her employees,” said GCVHCS Social Worker Sha’Quina McCovery. “She pays close attention to staff and implements changes an solutions and allows each community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC) to function as they need in an effort to best serve Veterans in each location in the GCVHCS.”

McDowell, the GCVHCS 2021 Employee of the Year and the GCVHCS Police Services Operations Officer, monitors daily happenings in the GCVHCS, and executed a $1.5 million security contract designed to provide addition security measures during the ongoing global health crisis. He also serves as the GCVHCS Police Service Physical Security Division supervisor and created a streamlined process to provide appropriate physical security access for GCVHCS employees during periods to enhanced facility entry procedures.

“As a U.S. Army veteran, he understands the unique challenges Veterans face, and as a retired Chief of Police in our local community, he appreciates the balance VA Police officers face as they strive to keep the Veteran at the forefront of our VA Police mission," said GCVHCS Chief of Police Services Keith Bradley. "He also created a mentorship program within GCVHCS Police Services, ensuring our VA Police officers are receiving effective guidance while keeping our focus on Veteran-centered policing which helps provide the best patient care experience possible for our Veterans." 

Higgins, the GCVHCS December 2021 Employee of the Month, serves as a Patient Advocate within the organizations Community and Public Affairs service. Working out of the Eglin CBOC, Higgins also provided patient advocacy coverage for the organization’s Panama City Beach facilities. Acting as a direct liaison between Veterans and the organization, Higgins resolves  variety of issues Veterans bring to the GCVHCS.

“Higgins ability to maintain the highest facility Trust Scores for the current fiscal year is due to his willingness to work with Veterans, clinical staff and other employees to ensure Veteran concerns are resolved in a timely fashion," said GCVHCS Patient Advocate Supervisor Michael Simmons. "His dedication to teamwork and the ability to communicate with leadership has impacted the organization."

The GCVHCS, headquartered at the Biloxi VA Medical Center in Biloxi, Mississippi, provides a variety of health care services to more than 82,000 Veterans at the organization’s locations in Mobile, Alabama, and Pensacola, Eglin and Panama City Beach, Florida.