Salisbury VA Health Care System recognizes top employees for 2024

2024 Salisbury VA Health Care System Clinical Employee of the Year: Chaplain Steven Knisley

Chaplain Steven Knisley, who serves Veterans at the W.G. (Bill) Hefner Salisbury VA Medical Center, always knew there was a higher calling to his life. He also knew he wanted to help others in a meaningful way; he just wasn’t sure how that would come to fruition. 

So, at 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. His military occupational specialty (MOS) was a 19 Delta (19D) Cavalier Scout. 

“I come from a military family. My brother was a Marine; my dad, and my grandfather they all served,” said Chaplain Knisley. “It's part of our family, we just do that.”

After the military, Chaplain Knisley eventually went on to earn his Doctor of Ministry (DMin) and Master of Divinity (MDiv) degrees from Emmanuel Christian Seminary in Tennessee. 

Chaplain Knisley is a board-certified chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains and the Association of Certified Christian Chaplains (ACCC). Chaplain Knisley also has a specialty certification in Greif Recovery through ACCC. 

Before joining the Salisbury VA last year, he served as a Clinical Chaplain at the Milwaukee VA Health Care System and has served as a lead pastor in Florida, Kentucky, and Texas. 

Chaplain Knisley says his experience as a lead pastor and the connections he made with the young people in the youth group of a church he served at in Kentucky inspired him to focus his time and talents on fellow Veterans. 

Heroes like U.S. Army Cpl. Gary Brent Coleman, a casualty of the Iraq War and former member of Chaplain Knisley’s youth group, motivated him to do the work he does today at VA –a very personal mission of serving Veterans.

As an ordained minister, Chaplain Knisley has extensive experience in hospice and palliative care. He served as a senior chaplain with Hospice of Midland in Texas and Hospice of Cincinnati in Ohio.  Chaplain Knisley was also recently responsible for ten retirement communities located across three states. 

At Salisbury VA, he serves as the chaplain for hospice, palliative care, oncology, and the Community Living Centers.

Outside of the VA, Chaplain Knisley enjoys spending time with Lisa, his wife of 33 years, and their daughter Payton.

Congratulations, Chaplain Knisley!

2024 Salisbury VA Health Care System Non-Clinical Employee of the Year: Gina Reed

Ever since she was in high school, Gina Reed, a registered nurse (RN) with the Salisbury VA, has had a clear vision of her future in nursing.

Since 2022, Mrs. Reed has served as the Resuscitation Education and Innovation (REdI) Program and Simulation Director in Salisbury VA’s Education and Workforce Development service. In this role, she is responsible for designing, implementing, and evaluating simulation-based training programs that enhance clinical skills and decision-making abilities. 

Mrs. Reed ensures that healthcare professionals receive high-quality education through realistic scenarios and hands-on practice, ultimately improving patient care and safety. This major task helps equip nursing and medical staff with cutting-edge, virtual trainings and more to help better serve and care for Veterans.

Graduating from Mitchell Community College in 2005, Mrs. Reed began her nursing career at Rowan Regional Medical Center. Initially working in the emergency department, she rapidly advanced to the role of charge nurse and earned her certification as a Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN).

In 2011, Mrs. Reed joined the Salisbury VA, where she continued her commitment to emergency care and honing her skills. Concurrently, she pursued further education, earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and subsequently her Master of Nursing Education (M.Ed) from Appalachian State University.

Throughout her tenure at the Salisbury VA, she has maintained her CEN certification and earned an additional certification in gastroenterology nursing.

Mrs. Reed joined the Education and Workforce Development service in 2020 as a clinical nurse educator. 

“When you are a nurse taking care of patients, that is a huge part of who you are. But the beauty of being an educator is you get to indirectly take care of patients by teaching individuals and fostering their learning so they can in return take care of those same patients,” said Mrs. Reed.

A wealth of experience and dedication to education and patient care make Mrs. Reed and invaluable asset to VA and the healthcare community.

Outside of her civil service, Mrs. Reed enjoys boating, traveling, and spending time with her husband Jeremy, and their daughter Karlie.

Congratulations, Mrs. Reed!

2024 Salisbury VA Health Care System Supervisor of the Year: Dr. Alok Trivedi

Passion, dedication, strong leadership, and compassion are just some of the characteristics it takes to be a successful supervisor, and Dr. Alok Trivedi possesses all of them and more. 

“I always want to take care of the people around me. So that [was] the inspiration behind becoming a physician,” said Dr. Trivedi. “Medicine isn't just prescribing medication. Medicine is knowing patients and their families at a different rate, connecting with them in a different way so that they have trust in you, and then you can manage their medical condition better.”

Dr. Trivedi started his career with the Salisbury VA Health Care System 15 years ago as a primary care Patient-Aligned Care Team (PACT) provider at the Charlotte Health Care Center (HCC). 

Over the years, Dr. Trivedi has served as Assistant Chief of Primary Care; Deputy Chief of Staff; and in his current role as the Chief Health Informatics Officer for the Salisbury VA.   

After completing medical school at B.J. Medical College in India, Dr. Trivedi then went on to complete his residency in family medicine at Western Pennsylvania Hospital in the Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Trivedi now works in the Office of the Chief of Staff and collaborates with group practice managers, data analytics, clinic profile managers, and Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) management teams. He also chairs the Health Informatics Council at Salisbury VA. 

With a career dedication to improving patient care quality and access, Dr. Trivedi is involved in multiple process improvement projects across the health care system to advance patient safety, quality of care, and access for Veterans.

Outside of serving Veterans, Dr. Trivedi enjoys playing golf and visiting national parks with his loving wife and daughter.

Congratulations, Dr. Trivedi!

For more information on this story, email the Office of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs at salisburyvapublicaffairs@va.gov. 

About the Salisbury VA Health Care System

At the Salisbury VA Health Care System, our mission is to fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors. 

Learn more at www.va.gov/salisbury-health-care.