As election season winds down, there’s one thing that we can all agree on: military veterans deserve our respect and admiration. Without the generations of military personnel who have defended our freedom, we wouldn’t enjoy the luxuries we’ve come to expect — and often take for granted — as Americans.

Each fall we dedicate an edition of News+Notes to highlight our co-workers who serve or have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. In this Veterans Day issue, our colleagues share compelling stories, provide inspirational perspectives, and describe the skills they learned in the military and how they use them to excel in their roles at UF Health.

We hope you enjoy the photos and profiles of these brave individuals and take time to honor them, and all veterans, during our annual Veterans Day Celebration in the UF Health Shands Hospital Atrium on Nov. 10. Find more details about the event on the Bridge under “Employee Services” then “HR Gainesville – Shands.”

As we approach 2017, please be sure to get your flu vaccination and participate in Benefits Open Enrollment — find details about how to do so in this edition.

Thank you for all you’ve done to make 2016 another great year at UF Health.

Pick up our next edition in early January for a look back at what we’ve accomplished in 2016 and a look at what’s to come in 2017 — a year that will be capped with the opening of our new heart and vascular and neuromedicine hospitals next December.

Happy holidays and New Year!