Milwaukee VA recognizes Employee of the Year, ICARE Champion of the Year

Registered Nurse Erika Hernandez was named Employee of the Year for 2025, while Nurse Practitioner Deanna Simcakoski-Carleton was chosen as ICARE Champion of the Year for 2025.

In addition, Supervisory Servant Leader Awards went to Katy Charlton, Jeffrey Bispo and Maria Diaz. HeRO award winners were also recognized, including national winners Charlton and Christine Ogrezovich; local individual winners Jamie Frank, Carl Jaskolski and Keyvan Kordi; and team winners Guillermo Hernandez, Jami Mikula and Dr. Elizabeth Papa.

Employee of the Year

Hernandez was lauded for her exceptional commitment to improving Veteran care and staff support. 

Having recently completed her master’s degree in Military and Veteran Healthcare, she has applied her expertise as a Tour of Duty facilitator, strengthening staff understanding of military culture and Veteran-centered care. 

She also stepped into a detailed assistant nurse manager role, contributing to staffing, documentation, consult management and data analysis. 

Beyond her clinical work, she fosters morale through creative virtual engagement and serves her community through volunteer medical support and outreach, including being a first responder for children at her daughters’ school.

“Erika stands out as a remarkable advocate for Veterans and a consummate health care professional,” according to her nomination. “Her contributions to the department, coupled with her dedicated community service, highlight her exceptional commitment to enhancing Veteran care. Erika has made a lasting mark not just on her organization but also on the lives of countless Veterans.”

ICARE Champion of the Year

Deanna Simcakoski-Carleton was honored for consistently embodying the VA’s highest values. 

“She brings compassion, professionalism and an unwavering commitment to Veterans we serve,” according to her nomination. 

She is known for going well beyond her duties — supporting staff across all disciplines, anticipating needs to keep clinics running smoothly and improving care through “thoughtful, efficient decision‑making. Her presence makes the entire clinic stronger, and it’s immediately noticed when she’s not there.”

“Most importantly, Deanna treats every Veteran with dignity, respect and genuine care. She lives out the heart of the VA mission in every interaction, every shift and every moment.”

Servant Leaders

The Supervisory Servant Leader Award is new, launched in July 2025 by VISN 12 leadership. It honors supervisors who are not regularly eligible for organizational awards.

In its inaugural year, the program yielded more than 426 nominations across the VISN, including 68 from the Zablocki VA Health Care System. The three winners were chosen from those 68 nominations:

Bispo, program manager for Primary Care, was recognized for his commitment to partnership, accountability and compassion. He works closely with front-line nurses, supporting evidence‑based practice, streamlined workflows and shared governance. 

“He also invites open dialogue, especially during times of change, and his empathy shines in moments of personal or team hardship,” according to his nomination. “Through open‑ended communication, collaborative problem‑solving and unwavering professionalism, Jeff consistently enhances the care experience for Veterans and empowers nursing staff. He exemplifies the qualities of a truly distinguished servant leader.”

Charlton, nurse manager for the Medical Procedures Unit, was lauded for her compassion, collaboration and commitment to empowering her team. 

She fosters shared governance, invites diverse perspectives and drives innovation — most notably driving the creation of the Clever Cap, an adapter that helped Milwaukee and other VAs through a critical nationwide medical fluid shortage that occurred after a hurricane in 2024 severely damaged a key manufacturing plant. 

Under her leadership, the Medical Procedure Unit earned ASGE Quality Endoscopy recognition, a Team Daisy Award, and showcased its process‑improvement work at Building Bridges. 

“Katy leads with humanity, prioritizing communication, celebration and emotional support. She is a leader who consistently elevates others.”

Diaz, clinical administrative specialist for Surgical Services, was noted for her commitment to her team. Throughout staffing challenges, she fostered collaboration, ensured every voice was heard and strengthened team well-being through compassion and support. 

Colleagues describe her as a leader who listens deeply, welcomes diverse perspectives, and offers thoughtful guidance that encourages professional growth. 

She also advocates for the team, consistently securing resources and championing staff needs while promoting shared ownership in policy development. 

“Her dedication has created an empowered, inspired workplace, making her not just a supervisor but a true role model and innovator.”

Committed to the mission

In her keynote address, MaryAnn D’Acquisto, who is a care coordination and integrated case management registered nurse as well as a Tour of Duty coordinator, emphasized that it’s the people at the Milwaukee VA — and their commitment to serving Veterans — that makes it a great place to work.

She’s been at the Milwaukee VA 23 years, and she balks when people ask her if she’s ready to retire.

“Why would I retire when I can work in an organization that has the greatest mission in the world?” she said. “But it’s more than that. … It’s the people in this room and in this building and in the clinics. It’s these people who go above and beyond as part of everyday life here at Zablocki.

“We are here today to honor the extraordinary work of these employees, and I know that extraordinary work will continue. Thank you to my VA co-workers for making VA such an extraordinary place to work.”