Director's Veteran Message October 17, 2025

 When you complete a Survey of Healthcare Experiences of Patients (SHEP) survey, your answers help us understand your experience and how well we’re meeting your needs. Two of the most important questions this survey will ask are related to stress and medications. We want to be sure we are caring for both your mind and your body and embracing a whole health approach to your well-being.

On the survey, you may see this question: “In the last 6 months, did you and anyone in this provider’s office talk about things in your life that worry you or cause you stress?” Veterans can answer “Yes” or “No.” This question helps us understand how often we’re creating space for conversations about your well-being and giving you the opportunity to talk about stress, while your healthcare team listens and offers support.

Another important question is: “In the last 6 months, how often did you and someone from this provider’s office talk about all the prescription medicines you were taking?” Veterans can choose from “Always,” “Usually,” “Sometimes,” or “Never.” Your response tells us that your care team is taking the time to review your medications, answer your questions, and ensure you understand how to take them safely.

Each month, a random group of Veterans are selected to receive the SHEP survey by email or mail. Every answer is counted and considered to reflect the size and diversity of our patient population, including differences of age and gender. This ensures that every Veteran’s voice is represented fairly in our reports. Your responses directly influence how we train our staff, improve our communication, and design process improvements. Your voice drives change. We want every Veteran to know that your voice matters. Every response on the survey represents a moment where a Veteran felt seen, heard, and cared for – and that’s our goal.

Together, we listen, we learn, and we improve. Mahalo for sharing your feedback.

Get Started with Chiropractic Care

As we observe National Chiropractic Health Month this October, we celebrate the importance of musculoskeletal health and are actively raising awareness about non-drug pain management. The advantages of initiating chiropractic treatment for common musculoskeletal conditions like back, neck, and joint pain can significantly reduce the risk of requiring opioid prescriptions.

Our very own providers Dr. Huybrecht and Dr. Moos offer Veterans chiropractic treatment at the Daniel K. Akaka VA Clinic in Kapolei, and our Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) in Kaneohe and in American Samoa.  

Chiropractic care not only addresses pain, but also promotes overall health and prevents injuries, helping our veterans return to the lives and activities they enjoy. Ask your primary care provider if this service may be right for you or visit the VA Chiropractic Program website at https://www.rehab.va.gov/chiro/ for more information.

Thoughts from Chaplain Richie Charles

Every year, runners worldwide take on the grueling challenge of a marathon, a 26.2-mile race that tests endurance and resolve, to the utmost limit. But perhaps one of the most dreaded moments in a marathon is when a runner “hits the wall.” In the world of marathon running, the “wall” isn’t a literal wall, but rather a sudden wave of crushing fatigue that overwhelms the body when its primary fuel source is depleted. The “wall” typically strikes somewhere between miles 18 and 20. When the wall hits, every step can feel like it’s dragging a boulder with their legs. Their arms grow heavy, and runners feel like they’re locked in a body that refuses to cooperate.

To make matters worse, this all typically happens in the latter part of the middle of the race. The middle is where the crowd and their cheers grow thin or becomes non-existent. The middle is where the runner can start questioning why they started running in the first place. In the middle, not only can the runner not see the finish line, but they may also start to wonder if there is a finish line. The beginning of a race is celebrated, and the end of a race is met with cheers, but the middle is the unglamorous stretch where something deeper has to keep you going. Perhaps you’ve never run a marathon, but all of us know what it’s like to run through the “middle”.

The middle is where we spend most of our lives. The beginning of a project, professional journey, or a task comes with excitement and vision. Reaching the finish line also often has its satisfaction and joy. But the middle…that’s where motivation can waver, energy can dip, and progress can feel slow. But the key to running well during our middle is not simply imagining the finish line — it’s remembering why we started in the first place.

It’s been said, “If you don’t know why you’re running, every mile will feel like too much.”

Our “why” gives us purpose. It fuels us when the cheering fades and sustains us when the middle becomes challenging. So, whether you’re in the middle of a project, the middle of a career, or even the middle of a tough life season, hold fast to your “why”. Let it be the fuel that helps you thrive in the middle of your marathon.

One Team, One Ohana!

Thandiwe Nelson-Brooks, MPH, FACHE 

Interim Medical Center Director

VA Pacific Islands Health Care System