VA Innovation in Action: Drumming up Wellness for Veterans

Army Veteran Hector Diaz spent 30 years in uniform. Today, he is still serving, just in a different way. As a health technician at the DOM, Diaz leads a weekly drumming session using the cajón, a Peruvian box drum that sounds like a full drum set when played.

For Veterans in recovery, these 45-minute sessions have become more than just music. They are therapy, community, and joy. “I don’t work for money,” Diaz said. “I come here because I love helping Veterans. It’s a mission for me.” But the mission did not start with a title. When Diaz first came to the DOM, he was working in environmental services, cleaning the facility. 

“Even while I was mopping floors, I’d stop and check on the guys,” he said. “Ask them how their family was, if they had housing, if they were okay. One day, my boss pulled me into the office and said, ‘Hector, you’ve got a way of talking to these Veterans. We need that.’ That’s when I applied for a health tech position.” 

Outside of work, Diaz had been a lifelong percussionist, playing in churches and at community events. One day, he brought his cajón to the DOM and began playing casually. “People would walk by and say, ‘Who’s playing a drum set?’” he laughed. “I’d tell them, ‘It’s just me and this box.’ They couldn’t believe it.” 

That curiosity turned into inspiration. Through local innovation investments Diaz was able to secure 10 cajóns and additional percussion instruments. His solo act became a group drumming circle held every Wednesday. 

“We just put on a speaker, play a song from YouTube, and everyone tries to keep the beat. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about feeling free.” The results have been profound. “I have over 100 notes from Veterans saying things like, ‘Drumming makes me feel free’ or ‘This is the best part of my week,’” said Diaz. 

Innovation Specialist Stephanie Sinnett with the Orlando VA Healthcare System (OVAHCS) explains, “By keeping the people experiencing a problem at the center of determining a solution, innovation investment projects like Hector’s empower employees to meet the needs of Veterans in new and creative ways!” 

The drumming sessions continue to have an impact as one Veteran even returned to the DOM a year after completing the program and asked if he could sit in on a session just to play again. The class has grown from a handful of curious participants to jam-packed gatherings of up to 18 people. 

“Sometimes we run out of drums, so I hand out maracas, tambourines, rhythm sticks. Whatever keeps everyone involved,” Diaz said. “It’s like a party. Even the doctors and social workers stop by to clap along.” 

Diaz also believes it is the beat that connects us all. “You hear a song in the car and your fingers tap the steering wheel. That rhythm, it’s already in us. And for 45 minutes, these Veterans aren’t thinking about trauma or stress. They’re thinking, ‘How do I make this beat?’ And that’s healing.” 

His message to other Veterans is simple. “Never doubt yourself. You don’t have to be a musician. You just have to show up and let the rhythm do the rest.” 

Through innovation, VA employees are finding fresh ways to reach Veterans where they are and help them heal in ways that are meaningful and lasting. Innovation empowers staff to turn ideas into impactful solutions that not only support Veteran wellness, but also help them reconnect, recover, and thrive.

For more information about OVAHCS mental health programs and services click here.

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Established in 2006, the Orlando VA Healthcare System is one of the leading healthcare systems serving more than 142,000 Veterans in the VA Sunshine Health Care Network offering healthcare services at 11 locations serving east central Florida. Recently recognized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the healthcare system received 5 out of 5 stars in overall hospital quality. The healthcare system has also been given 5-star recognition for patient experience by Becker’s Hospital Review and was awarded the 2024 Patient Safety Program of Excellence designation from the Veterans Health Administration’s National Center for Patient Safety.

To learn more about the facilities and services offered by the OVAHCS, please visit: VA Orlando Health Care | Veterans Affairs, subscribe to receive email updates by clicking here, like us on Facebook at: Orlando VA Healthcare System | Facebook, follow us on Instagram at: Orlando VA Healthcare System (@ovahcs) • Instagram photos and videos or on Twitter at: @OVAHCS / Twitter. 

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