Rogers commemorates Veterans Day
11/23/21 11:55:am
Rogers celebrated Veterans Day earlier this month, honoring veterans at our organization and employee family members who served in the armed forces of the United States of America.
The Veterans Day recognition was organized by the Military, Veterans, and Supporters Employee Resource Group (MVS ERG). Below, the group’s three co-leads share more about their personal experiences in the military.
Josh Nadeau, PhD, senior clinical director
MM1 (SS) U.S. Navy 1993-2004
“Every male on both sides of my family, and many, many of the women in my family have served,” he says. “Something that’s very important in my family is giving back. I was taught you need to serve this country that provides you with a lot, so you need to earn it. That’s what led me to join.”
Dr. Nadeau says his dad and uncle met while on a submarine, became friends, and married sisters when they left the military. He grew up hearing their stories, so he knew when he joined the Navy he wanted to work on a submarine.
“I joined in 1993 just before I turned 21 in boot camp,” he explains. “I was a nuclear mechanic for just under 12 years. I left when my wife and I decided to have a child, and I knew I didn’t want to be out at sea when the child was born.”
Dr. Nadeau credits the military with teaching him interpersonal skills that help him in his job every day.
“You get very good at becoming close friends and getting to know each other, sometimes better than people you have known your entire life,” he says. “You realize when you say goodbye to someone, because they have orders to move, you may never see that person again. Once I got out of the service, that skill served me quite well in terms of being able to make introductions and have conversations with people I don’t know.”
Dr. Nadeau is proud to lend his support to Rogers’ MVS ERG, and says he hopes it continues to change the way people think about veterans and their mental health needs.
“These are the people you work with,” he says. “Some of our experiences are different than what we’re used to, and how we talk about and see things is a little different, but that’s okay. I hope it helps bridge the disconnect with what it means to be a veteran, so it’s easier to get along with your colleagues because you understand them a little more deeply.”
Dr. Nadeau adds another goal of the group is for Rogers to be a welcoming environment for veterans to seek employment.
“When I say ‘veteran,’ what pops into your mind?” he asks. “I think if we can change that for the better it’s a good thing. That’s a pretty lofty goal, but one worth fighting for.”
Matt Pflepsen, LMS administrator
SGT U.S. Marine Corps 2002-2013 (OIF/OEF 2004-2005, 2006, 2011)
Matt enlisted in the Marine Corp when he was 19 and became active duty the following year, serving from July 2002 to August 2013. He did two tours in Iraq and one in the Middle East but doesn’t consider himself a hero.
“My time in the military was the most amazing experience of my life,” he says. “I’m just wired that if someone needs to be the one to protect, I’d rather it be me than someone else.”
Matt’s plans were to stay in the military and retire after 20 years, however, he received an honorable discharge due to an injury.
Matt went back to school for business operations and development – part of what he learned during his military training, and he wanted to find the civilian equivalent. He had plans to join his wife and daughter who had moved ahead of him to Texas, but they later decided they wanted to be closer to family in Wisconsin.
“I like to fish, and I have spent time in Oconomowoc,” he says. “I saw a position open at Rogers and applied.”
Matt says he respects Rogers’ Mission and is proud to be part of the organization.
“Behavioral healthcare is so important to active military and veterans, as well as their supporters and family,” he explains. “Everyone I know and served with has had traumatic injuries, or PTSD, depression, and anxiety. I joined Rogers because I want to support behavioral healthcare and access for them.”
Through the MVS ERG, Matt hopes to raise awareness about veterans’ mental health needs and their access to evidence-based care.
“Our goal is not only to impact vets within Rogers by creating a community, but also have a positive impact within the communities Rogers serves,” he says.
Rae Anne Ho Fung, PhD, clinical supervisor in Brown Deer
SSG U.S. Army National Guard 2001-2010 (OIF 2009 – 2010)
“I returned from basic training just four days before 9/11 and spent the last several decades watching my friends and loved ones deploy overseas to the Middle East,” she said. “Most notably for me has been the mental health impact of engaging in conflict for two decades. We’ve seen people come back with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and, unfortunately, have lost people due to suicide. We are likely to interact with veterans and military in our work and being aware of the culture and what’s happening in the Middle East will serve us to better support our military veterans.”
Anne Ballentine, vice president, Marketing and Communications, and MVS ERG executive sponsor
“I’m impressed by their goals and want to do whatever I can to assist. Our veterans have done so much for our country, and they are incredible and valued contributors to Rogers and our patients.”
Please see below for more stories of Rogers veterans and employees with veterans in their families.
If you would like more information about the MVS ERG, email Matt at Matthew.Pflepsen@rogersbh.org.
