Director's Message January 17, 2025

In honor of Dr. King, all VAPIHCS clinics will be closed on Saturday, January 18, 2025, and Monday, January 20, 2025. On this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we reflect on Dr. King’s enduring legacy of courage, equality, and service. His vision of justice and his unwavering commitment to uplifting humanity resonate deeply within the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs. As we honor his memory, let us recommit to fostering a culture of inclusivity and equity, ensuring every Veteran is treated with dignity and respect. Together, we can continue then work of building a future that embodies Dr. King’s dream of unity and opportunity for all. 

Kilauea Eruption Challenges Air Quality for Veterans and VA Staff

The recent eruption of Kilauea on Hawai’i Island poses significant air quality challenges for both Veterans and staff within the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS). Volcanic eruptions release sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and other pollutants into the atmosphere, forming a dense volcanic haze, or “vog.” This vog can cause respiratory issues, especially for individuals with pre-existing health conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or heart disease.

Veterans and VA staff working or living near affected areas are particularly vulnerable, as prolonged exposure to vog can lead to irritation of the eyes, throat, and lungs, as well as exacerbate existing health conditions. Additionally, the microscopic particles in vog can penetrate deep into the lungs, increasing the risk of respiratory infections.

The VA Pacific Islands Health Care System is actively addressing these challenges by:

    •       Providing guidance on reducing exposure to vog, such as staying indoors, using air purifiers, and wearing N95 masks when necessary.

    •       Offering telehealth services to ensure Veterans continue to receive care without traveling through areas affected by poor air quality.

    •       Monitoring air quality updates and coordinating with state and local authorities to ensure staff and Veterans are informed and safe.

As the situation evolves, the VA remains committed to safeguarding the health and well-being of its Veterans and staff by promoting preparedness and prioritizing access to health care resources. 

National Blood Donor Month

January is national blood donor month. Blood donation is important because -without donated blood- many people would not be able to survive surgeries, genetic disorders, and diseases. Donating blood saves lives. You served in the military to protect and defend this country we all love. Today, consider blood donation to continue to serve your community and help save lives. Click here to find a donation site near you. 

Thyroid Awareness Month

The thyroid might be a small organ, but it affects your mind and body in big ways. January is Thyroid Awareness Month - an opportunity to spread the word about thyroid health. It’s also a time to encourage thyroid disease prevention, early detection, and treatment. It’s estimated that over 20 million people in the United States are living with thyroid disease. The problem is, more than half of them don’t know it. If you are feeling sluggish, gaining or losing weight without trying, having trouble regulating your body temperature, or experiencing digestion issues, talk with your doctor. A simple blood test can determine if your thyroid is functioning normally. Call us at 1-800-214-1306 to make an appointment.

Mission, Aspiration, and Purpose

The theme for January Whole Health communications is discovering your mission, aspiration, and purpose. Here are some things we can all consider as we search for our reasons for being:

•  It’s not about what is the matter with you. It’s about what matters to you. That’s what the unique approach of Whole Health puts at the center of your health care.

•  Whole Health empowers you to take charge of your health so you can live your life to the fullest.

•  What matters to you? Tools such as the Personal Health Inventory can help you determine what is important to you in your life.

Visit our Whole Health website to learn more.

Thoughts from Chaplain Richie Charles

On October 26, 1967, just six months before his assassination, Dr. King gave an address entitled “What Is Your Life’s Blueprint?” – a stirring speech which left its indelible mark in the annuls of time.

But this speech was not delivered on the grand steps of the Lincoln Memorial, or before a vast assembly numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Rather, it was to an audience of young students at Barratt Junior High School in Philadelphia. But the principles he espoused that day would transcend both time and age.

Leaning into the podium, he said, “Number one in your life’s blueprint should be a deep belief in your own dignity, your own worth, and your own ‘somebodiness’. Don’t allow anybody to make you feel that you are nobody. Always feel that you count. Always feel that you have worth. And always feel that your life has ultimate significance.”

I could imagine that as Dr. King’s eyes peered over that young assembly of students, he knew full well that these young students could never rise to their full potential unless they truly saw value in themselves. Those kids, first and foremost, had to truly believe that the person they saw in the mirror was a person of worth and value. Regardless of what others thought about them, Dr. King understood that what they accepted as true about themselves would be the most consequential for their lives.

Herein lies a gem of thought for us as well. We all will, at one point or another, come to moments in our lives where our potential and our capacity may be doubted by others. But Dr. King reminds us that it’s not so much the opinions of others that determine our life’s blueprint, but what we accept as true for ourselves that is the most determinant.

Holding fast to a belief in our dignity and worth will help us maintain an inner buoyancy that can help us rise when we feel pressed down. As we take time to reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy, let’s determine to never forget our value.

One Team, One Ohana!
Adam M. Robinson, Jr., MD, MBA, CPE 
Director, VA Pacific Islands Health Care System
VADM, MC, USN, (RET)
36th Surgeon General, USN