Milwaukee VA honors employees of the year
A pharmacist and a social worker who work tirelessly to meet the needs of Veterans were honored with the Milwaukee VA Medical Center’s Employee of the Year and ICARE Champion of the Year awards.
Dr. Erin Stoop, a pharmacist, and Christine Taber, social worker at the Milwaukee Soldiers Home, took home the top awards at the annual ceremony, which was held in-person Friday for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. It was also broadcast virtually.
The winners were chosen from the past year’s Employee of the Month and ICARE Champion of the Month winners. In all, the year saw employees from more than 23 divisions and 26 different positions/professions nominated for the awards.
“It’s a privilege to serve and recognize all the amazing employees who provide excellent care to our Veterans and make the Zablocki VA Medical Center such as great place to work,” said Torrie Hutchison, incoming chairwoman of the Employee Awards and Recognition Committee.
Empathetic and compassionate
Taber was cited for her “integrity, authenticity, consistency and strong moral practice” in working with staff and Veterans each day, according to nominator Jane Collingwood.
At the Milwaukee Soldiers Home, Taber works daily with Veterans who have transitioned from homelessness to their new home in the historic Old Main building. She was the original sole case manager for the facility when it opened in 2021, and she helped initiate the process for housing formerly homeless Veterans.
Collingwood noted that Taber works “empathetically and compassionately” with Veterans, not only on their housing needs but their mental and physical health needs as well.
“Christine is always respectful, even in times of disagreement or failure to see eye-to-eye, and Christine is diplomatic and open with her communication,” Collingwood wrote. “Overall, Christine demonstrates excellence through her willingness to collaborate, ability to think outside the box, extreme devotion to Veterans, mentoring of staff and solution-focused approach.”
Taber was lauded for staying with a Veteran experiencing a possible stroke and encouraging him to get medical attention despite past negative interactions with health care providers. After receiving treatment, the Veteran thanked Taber, calling her his “personal VA angel.”
“Christine never turns away a Veteran or a staff member with a question or concern,” Collingwood wrote, noting Taber is always “fully present.”
“Miss Taber’s commitment to serving our Veterans is sincerely respected, and her performance is a true demonstration of ICARE values.”
Going the extra mile
Stoop was honored for being “a leader, a team player and an outstanding employee,” according to nominator Victoria Strong, who noted Stoop’s willingness to resolve issues and advocate for patients while “being flexible with assignments and providing attentive guidance to new employees and trainees.”
“She goes the extra mile every day for her patients and is passionate about providing the best care,” Strong wrote.
Stoop took the lead when she identified problems regarding timely action on prescriptions received through Community Care and fought to solve the issue, which was affecting VA facilities nationwide, Strong wrote.
Strong also noted that Stoop worked past her normal hours to process prescriptions for a Veteran being discharged from a community hospital after surgery, making sure the appropriate medications were available.
“Examples like the above are regular for Erin,” Strong wrote. “We receive routinely compliments from patients and caregivers highlighting her customer service. … She is truly one of the best employees we have and an even more amazing person.”