Veterans caring for Veterans at Houston VA
Houston VA physician Shari Rochen is very busy and that’s just how this Air Force Veteran likes it.
“I work in a bustling clinic, and I’m doing exactly what I like (treating Veteran outpatients), so it keeps me sharp,” said Rochen, who has practiced medicine for nearly 40 years.
She has been fine-tuning her medical craft even before becoming a young student at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. While working as a nurse’s aide living near Offutt Air Force Base, she learned of the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP). Though she said she only wanted to go to Creighton, she knew receiving a scholarship to attend their School of Medicine meant great things for her future.
With the Air Force picking up the tab for her medical doctorate came a service obligation of four years on active duty.
During her seven-year career in blue, she experienced a couple of exciting deployments with one to Cuba in support of Operation Safe Harbor. This was a joint task force set up to provide security, food, and medical care to Haitians fleeing their homeland from 1991-1993.
Once she left the Air Force, Rochen and her family relocated to Houston where she worked in private practice until coming to Houston VA six years ago.
“The staff here is really hard working, and my colleagues are outstanding,” she said. “I just enjoy what I do given this opportunity.”
Rochen said she is a “forever student,” always eager to learn and continue to do her best for Houston’s Veterans.
“This is such a great, unique patient population from young Veterans who recently left active duty through some of our older retirees and treating them all is really just a true pleasure for me.”
Rochen celebrates 30 years of marriage soon with her husband, Jeffrey, whom she met while in residency. They have a daughter in graduate school at the University of Texas, Butler School of Music.
We thank Dr. Rochen for her military service and her continued service to our Veterans.