APRN Council Member Fiame Belkys
The VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS) takes pride in enriching the medical community through various initiatives, such as participating in the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Council and training the healthcare leaders of tomorrow.
Dr. Belkys Fiame, an Army veteran and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, serves as the Director of the PMHNP Residency Program at VAPIHCS. She supports numerous clinics and programs, with recently published research, and acts as the consulting provider for the caregiver support program. Additionally, she is recognized as a subject matter expert in hiring actions, pay setting for nurse practitioners, probationary reviews, holds an integral role in the Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) and participates in the APRN council. Dr. Fiame also serves as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Nancy Atmospera-Walch School of Nursing.
“I wanted to be a teacher when I was younger,” Belkys said. “When I joined the Army and took my MEPS station exam, it opened up a world of opportunities, drawing me to the medical career options. Now, with VAPIHCS, I am both a Nurse Practitioner and a 'teacher of sorts' for the next generation of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses.”
Belkys served six years in the U.S. Army (from a combat medic to an APRN, going from enlisted ranks to officer rank through the green to gold program). After leaving the Army, she continued her service by working as a nurse at Schofield Barracks. Eager to work for the VA, she pursued various job openings and eventually chose a position in Caregiver Support, appreciating the chance to provide comprehensive services to veterans at home.
Some settings don't provide the luxury of time needed to truly connect with a patient and their family, ensuring they receive the help they need when they need it," Belkys said. "Through the Caregiver Support Program, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to offer comprehensive services. I appreciate having the time to address most concerns and deliver quality care at every opportunity."
Together with APRN Hollie Seward, Belkys manages the new nurse practitioner residency program. The first cohort is nearing completion, and residents for the second cohort, starting in September, have already been selected. This residency program is a key component of VAPIHCS's commitment to cultivating confident, compassionate, veteran-centric, and practice-ready nurse practitioners. Nationally, the VA trains over 70% of medical professionals for some part of their training, making it an essential part of educating the healthcare professionals of tomorrow.
“All our residents have been phenomenal, and I am so proud to watch them become more confident in their practice,” Belkys said. “This was our first group, and it’s been a huge learning curve for all involved in making this program a success, as we move to future cohorts we will take lesson learned and hopefully continue to build on past successes as well as improve on areas that were challenging during the first cohort.”
Belkys also actively participates in the APRN Council, a multi-purpose group that shares valuable information with nurse practitioners and provides an open forum for discipline-specific discussions. Participants leave empowered with knowledge and resources for future reference.
“The council is something I really treasure because we all come together as a collective to learn in an open forum within a protected environment about items relevant to our clinical practice, roles or anything applicable to APRNs at VAPIHCS. This is incredibly valuable,” Belkys said. “The wealth of information that comes through this council, documented in the minutes, serves as a living testament. It’s a phenomenal resource to have, and I can always find what I need by reviewing past meeting minutes.”
Originally from the Dominican Republic, Belkys moved to Hawaii with the Army and chose to stay due to the strong sense of community in the Pacific Islands. Before joining the Army, she lived in New York and was last stationed in Germany with her husband, also an Army soldier (DENTAC), before settling in Oahu. She treasures the opportunity to raise her children and grandchildren here and is grateful for her career in mental health.
“It’s not what I saw myself doing as a young nurse starting my career,” Belkys said. “But now, I just can’t imagine doing anything else. It’s a really good fit for me, and I feel like I am making a difference. Every day, I get to help veterans. There is no greater feeling or job satisfaction in the world for me.”