Veterans honor the legacy of Dr. Jacqueline Bethany with VA award
When Veterans share their memories of Dr. Jacqueline Bethany, it is obvious her legacy will continue to affect Veterans for years to come.
“I came here in 2008, troubled. I had some issues. … I was an angry person,” said U.S. Army Vietnam War Veteran Michael Benton, former chairman of the Milwaukee VA Mental Health Veteran Advocacy Council.
Benton found success in the Milwaukee VA Vocational Rehabilitation Program and overcame his anger management issues. “If it wasn’t for Dr. Bethany, and her little soft voice saying, ‘OK Mr. Benton.’ I don’t know,” he said.
Bethany was a Milwaukee VA psychologist dedicated to improving the quality of VA’s vocational rehabilitation services and serving Veterans. Bethany died in 2016 at the age of 60.
“When she died, it hurt me so bad, and it still hurts,” Benton said. “She was my inspiration.”
To honor Bethany’s legacy, Benton and Dr. Michael McBride, Milwaukee VA co-division manager for Mental Health, developed the Bethany Award.
“How do you recognize someone who was so great to so many Veterans?” Benton said. “I went to McBride and told him we had to do something to show recognition for somebody who was so special. With me coaxing him and going back and forth, we came up together with the Bethany Award.”
In 2017 the Milwaukee VA Mental Health Veteran Advocacy Council introduced the Bethany Award. The recognition is given to Milwaukee VA staff and managers who are instrumental in enhancing Veterans’ mental health, physical well-being and preventing homelessness and suicide.
On Feb. 16, the council present the Bethany Award to Shauna Gearhart for her outstanding contribution to Veterans participating in the Whole Health program.
“On the Bethany Award poster is one of our favorite sayings: ‘We will be known forever by the tracks that we have left behind’,” said Glenn Perry, council member. “This award is designed for Veterans to recognize somebody here at the VA who has done an outstanding job for us. Today we want to recognize Shauna Gearhart.”
Gearhart was humbled by the recognition
“I didn’t do anything for Glenn,” she said. “He just walked into the room and did some intentional breathing with me. Glenn realized that he could have control over his mind, his body. We all have self-healing within ourselves. I just opened the door and let (him) be aware that (he has) that. This is the greatest skill I’ve learned.
“The Veterans learn that they have all the power to make their life look how they want it,” said Gearhart. “I give them a different way to think about it and an invitation to learn something different … reacquainting yourself with what we already have inside to make changes that you want for your life.”
VA’s Whole Health approach is person-centered, integrated and incorporates patients’ goals into their health care plan and activities.
Perry also lauded Stacy Olsen, the Whole Health manager, and highlighted the personal impact Whole Health had in his life.
“I met Stacy a long time ago, and she’s done a lot,” said Perry. “I joined her doing yoga, of all things, and from there I started walking a lot better. I had a lot of problems back then — spiritually and physically. I was kind of wondering about the whole thing, you know, ready to give up, and well, she changed everything,” he said.
“If you really want to get involved in some very good programs, try Whole Health,” Perry said.
“We plan our programs as a team so multiple individuals in our team can take actions in different ways to provide different experiences,” Olsen said. “Each experience can help the Vet grow and be closer to getting whatever they want out of life.
“Giving Veterans the resources and letting them sort out what works lets them be the center of their health care.” Olsen said. “We are the passengers in the car, and they are the driver.”
Bethany’s legacy extends further than just Milwaukee. VA’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention established the Jackie Bethany Awards for Compensated Work Therapy Excellence in Vocation Rehabilitation. These awards acknowledge the importance of employment for mental health and are given annually nationwide.
“I came to the VA because I wanted to help Veterans.” Gearhart said. “I’ve known some of them from when I worked in Mental Health. To see their journey evolve, to sit across from them and connect, those are the most rewarding things.”