Supporting Veterans and First Responders with the Valor Program

by | May 31, 2023

A family member and former firefighter discuss the merits of the Chapters Health Valor Program and how it can help Veterans, First Responders and their families face the challenges of a life-limiting illness.

May is a special time for supporting Veterans and First Responders. It is National Military Appreciation Month, with Memorial Day serving as a special time to honor and those who gave their lives while serving the country. The Senate formally recognized the national month of observance with a resolution passed in 1999. There are also observances for First Responders in National EMS Week, National Police Week and International Firefighters Day. There are many organizations in Florida supporting Veterans, First Responders and families during this special time. The Chapters Health Valor Program is one of those organizations.

Supporting Veterans and First Responders with Valor Pinnings

Chapters Health Valor Program team members and volunteers supporting veterans and first responders at Aston Gardens of Tampa Bay retirement community.

Chapters Health Valor Program team member delivers certificate to veteran to honor and recognize his military service.

Any service, big or small, is worthy of recognition and respect. The Chapters Health Valor Program honors this service through Valor Pinnings, among other ceremonies. The program provides support to Veterans and First Responders with certificates, pins, and commemorative coins acknowledging the service and commitment they gave to their country and communities. The program honored approximately 55 veterans and military family members during a pinning ceremony at a retirement community in Tampa last year.

Telling Their Stories

For Chief Master Sergeant David Bryant, his service carried a special significance. David was a patient with LifePath Hospice, a Chapters Health affiliate. He was among the first African Americans to reach the highest non-commissioned rank in the U.S. Air Force. He served in the Army Air Corps during WWII and the Korean War, eventually rising to the rank of Master Sergeant in Command and earning the respect of his many airmen. Moreover, David accomplished all of it in the heat of the civil rights movement. David passed away this year at his home in Tampa at the age of 97. It was a privilege to be welcomed into his home last year for his 97th birthday. During that visit, his daughter, son-in-law and fellow airman, Lieutenant Col. Odell Smith (ret.) reflected on his years of service and love for his family.

 

Reanata Hickman (left) poses for a photograph with her father, David Bryant (right) on his 97th birthday.

“I joined the air force when I was 17 years old, straight out of high school,” said Smith. “People would ask me after I became an officer, ‘who did I emulate most?’ Who did I want to be like?’ I told them; a sergeant named David A. Bryant.”

During the birthday celebration, he said a few words to his guests.

“I appreciate you all being here,” said David. “I know all the people here are good people.

David earned an honor pin, certificate and other commendations through the Valor Program for his service. To his daughter, Reanata Hickman, recognition for her father’s service reinforces her belief that you can “overcome anything and be all you can be.”

“It was awesome,” said Hickman. “It just makes me stronger.”

What it Means to First Responders

Veterans are not the only ones proudly serving their country. There are more than 4.6 million First Responders in the country. Firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), police officers, sheriff’s deputies and other personnel who respond to the worst-case scenarios in our communities. That service takes a toll. A toll Tony Bossio saw first-hand when he served as a firefighter for six years in LeClaire, Iowa.

“I was a first lieutenant and fire prevention officer,” said Tony. “We ran about 400 to 500 calls per year. Many of the challenges for me were mental. You must be at your best on someone’s worst day. Every day you must be calm in the face of danger. Whether it’s the challenge of a vehicle accident or a house fire.”

Many people are kept safe by the quick actions of First Responders. Unfortunately, however, they can’t save everyone and sometimes those are the calls First Responders remember most. Afterwards, talking about those hard calls can be difficult. Sometimes it’s easier when someone shares a similar experience, an opportunity afforded by Valor Cafes. Valor Cafes are a peer-to-peer events where Veterans and First Responders can meet, enjoy good company and build new friendships.

“Being able to talk about your experiences with others who have the same history is very important. It helps you heal”

Tony’s desire to keep his community safe didn’t end after his firefighting career. He now works in sales and project management for International Fire Protection Inc., a leader in fire protection and life safety solutions, which sponsored this year’s Hospice Open Charity Golf Tournament, benefitting Chapters Health System patients and families.

For the Families

Sometimes, First Responders and Veterans make the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe. For their families, an arduous journey of anger, sadness, grief and acceptance lies ahead. They don’t have to embark on it alone. Chapters Health is determined to join them, making free bereavement resources available.

“I have always said the most powerful part of the job is being able to hold someone’s hand when they just need a hand to hold,” said Tony. “I believe that goes both ways. We just need someone to listen or someone to care for us as we have cared for them. We all have a very important role to play with our time on earth. Can you imagine what it could be like if we all just tried a little harder, cared a little more?”

Essentially, that is what the Chapters Health Valor Program wants to accomplish. Ask yourself, do you think this country could care a little more about our Veterans? What about our First Responders? Clearly, the volunteers and leaders of the Chapters Health Valor Program have already decided.

To learn more about how the Valor Program is supporting Veterans and First responders, call 855-533-0580 or email [email protected].

Chapters Health System is committed to serving the needs of its patients, families, caregivers, health providers, partners, and communities.

For more information, please call our helpful Chapters Health team at 1.866.204.8611 or Contact Us.

Austin Mudd

Austin Mudd

Austin Mudd, Media Relations Specialist at Chapters Health System, is responsible for external communications for the nonprofit organization. Email: [email protected]

About Us

Established in 1983 as a community-centered, nonprofit entity, Chapters Health has grown exponentially through its radical approach to healthcare that leverages a one-of-a-kind system to support patients, families, and caregivers across the country, while remaining grounded in the mission of taking care of patients, or taking care of those who do®.

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John J. Whyte, MD, MPH

CEO and Executive President,
American Medical Association

John Whyte, MD, MPH serves as the CEO and Executive Vice President of the American Medical Association, the nation’s largest physician organization.

Prior to the AMA, Dr. Whyte served as the Chief Medical Officer at WebMD, leading initiatives that expanded strategic partnerships, created new business opportunities, and positioned WebMD at the forefront of digital health innovation. He was a pivotal force in evolving WebMD’s digital platforms from content delivery engines to powerful tools connecting consumers directly to care, establishing critical new revenue models. He is a recognized leader in healthcare delivery and regulation and is consistently named as one of the Top 20 Health Influencers.

Before joining WebMD, Dr. Whyte served as Director of Professional Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. There, he spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives to modernize clinical trial design, expand diversity in research, and advance the regulatory use of real-world evidence — efforts that continue to impact patient-centered drug development today.

Earlier, as Chief Medical Expert and Vice President of Health and Medical Education at Discovery Channel, Dr. Whyte launched educational programming that captured both medical and mainstream audiences, successfully aligning mission-driven health education with corporate funding strategies and building new multimedia brand identities.

At the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Dr. Whyte played a pivotal role in formalizing Medicare’s national coverage decision process, directly shaping payment policies and advancing innovative models to improve healthcare outcomes. His experience at CMS demonstrates a deep understanding of health policy, reimbursement strategies, and the critical intersection of clinical innovation and payment models.

A board-certified internist, Dr. Whyte completed his MD at Hahnemann University School of Medicine, his residency at Duke University Medical Center and earned his MPH in Health Policy and Management at Harvard University. He previously served as a health services research fellow at Stanford University. An accomplished author, Dr. Whyte has written extensively for both professional and consumer audiences, including five best-selling book

Andrew Molosky on podcast

Dr. Venki Ramakrishnan

Nobel Laureate

Venki Ramakrishnan is an American and British molecular biologist who shared the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He currently works at the world-renowned MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England and from 2015-2020, he served as President of the Royal Society, one of the world’s oldest scientific organizations. He is best known for his work on protein synthesis, the process by which genetic information is used by the ribosome to make the thousands of proteins that make life possible. This process is fundamental to all life and its dysfunction leads to many diseases as well as to aging. He is a member of the US National Academy of Sciences and was knighted by the British government in 2012. In 2022, he received one of Britain’s highest civilian honors, the Order of Merit, which is restricted to 24 people across all fields.

In addition to his academic work, Ramakrishnan is a science partner of the venture capital fund Ahren Innovation Capital, and on the boards of the AI-based drug development company, Isomorphic Labs, and the British Library. He recently co-founded RNAvate, an RNA therapeutics company based on stable, next-generation RNA molecules. In the public arena, he played a leadership role when he was president of the Royal Society, including dealing with the consequences of Brexit and helping convene the Society’s response to provide advice during the covid pandemic and did a significant amount of public engagement including articles in the press and appearances on national media.

Ramakrishnan is the author of two popular books: Gene Machine (2018), a very frank scientific memoir about the race for the structure of the ribosome that led to the Nobel Prize; and Why We Die: The New Science of Aging and the Quest For Immortality (2024), which looks at the biology of aging and efforts to combat it.

Andrew Molosky on podcast

Marwa El-Menshawi, MD, MPH

Chief Operating Officer, PACE Chapters Health System

Marwa El-Menshawi, MD is the Chief Operating Office for Hope PACE. She is a triple board-certified physician, specializing in Family, Geriatric and Hospice Medicine. Dr. El-Menshawi's focus is on improving the lives of those affected by advanced age and serious illness through innovation in high complexity and value-based care. She has almost 20 years of clinical, academic and healthcare leadership experience.

Dr. El-Menshawi is a member of the American Academy of Family Medicine and the National PACE Association. She serves on the Mayor's Committee for Livability and Healthy Aging, focused on serving the community through advocacy and education, recommending and promoting programs and initiatives that benefit older adults.

Dr. El-Menshawi earned her Medical Doctorate as a Magna Cum Laude graduate from the University of Alabama School of Medicine and was awarded the distinguished membership into the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honors society, along with multiple academic achievement awards including the American Medical Women's Association Glasgow-Rubin Achievement Citation, the Merck Manual Award and the Peacock Teaching Fellowship. She completed her residency in Family Medicine and Certificate of Added Qualifications in Geriatric Medicine following a Geriatrics Fellowship at Advent Health in Orlando, FL. She serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Geriatrics at the Florida State University College of Medicine and an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine.

Andrew Molosky on podcast

Andrew Molosky

President and CEO, Chapters Health System

Andrew Molosky is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Chapters Health System, the country's defining chronic illness organization, comprised of more than 30 different companies and programs, including the nation's largest nonprofit hospice network, PACE, value-based care such as CareNu, a Medicare Advantage plan, managed services organizations, technology solutions, advanced illness offerings, and more.
Established in 1983 as a community-centered, nonprofit entity, Chapters Health has grown exponentially through Molosky's innovative approach to healthcare, becoming a national leader recognized by Great Places to Work, Fortune, USA Today, and others for being a top place to work.
As a leading voice in healthcare, Molosky is routinely engaged as a consultant, speaker, and mentor. Molosky is modeling and leading across several industries concurrently.
Molosky has more than 20 years of experience spanning an array of geographies and organizations, including publicly traded, privately held, and nonprofit. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Toledo and his Master of Business Administration from the Ken Blanchard College of Business at Grand Canyon University, additionally holding his Fellowship from the American College of Healthcare Executives.

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