In November, we had the honor of celebrating faculty and staff who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. At UF Health, our differences are our strength and we are proud of the unique skills our veteran faculty and staff bring to their patients, visitors and colleagues.

In the following pages, you’ll have a glimpse into the lives of more than 20 UF Health veteran faculty and staff. Read through their interesting stories and quotes and view the world map that highlights where they spent most of their time in service.

Please join us in thanking those among us — at UF Health and nationwide — who have served our country.

Janet Christie

Senior Vice President, Human Resources

UF Health Shands

RICHARD DEASON

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

UF HEALTH INTEGRATED DATA REPOSITORY

U.S. NAVY: 10 YEARS

What made you interested in serving in the U.S. Armed Forces?

After completing graduate school, I wanted to attempt to do the most challenging thing I could find. After making a list of things I wanted to accomplish since childhood, naval aviation stood out and had all the elements I was seeking: challenge, adventure and service to my country.

LAKESHA FOUNTAIN

DIRECTOR

UF HEALTH SHANDS OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS

U.S. ARMY: 5 YEARS

How do you apply your military experience to your work at UF Health?

The ability to adapt to and drive change has been helpful in my role at UF Health. Accountability and structure are two key components that every military officer is taught, and I try to bring that to every project I am assigned to.

LEONARD GRIFFIN

SECURITY SUPERVISOR

UF HEALTH SHANDS SAFETY, SECURITY AND TRANSPORTATION

U.S. AIR FORCE: 6 YEARS

Please share a memorable story form your military experience.

I enjoyed traveling and seeing different lifestyles in other countries in comparison to the U.S.

KATHRYN HITCHCOCK, M.D., PH.D.

RADIATION ONCOLOGIST

UF COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

U.S. NAVY: 10 YEARS

What made you interested in serving in the U.S. Armed Forces?

I was a nuclear engineer in the U.S. Navy and now I treat cancer patients with radiation. Much of the physics and biology knowledge from my previous work applies to what I do day to day now. The most important part of what I learned in the service, though, was how to talk to people about complicated technical issues. Now, I can help my patients feel comfortable about their proposed treatment.

DEBRA HUTCHINSON, B.S.N., R.N., O.C.N.

CLINICAL OPERATIONS MANAGER

UF HEALTH SHANDS RADIATION ONCOLOGY

U.S. AIR FORCE: 4 YEARS

Please share a memorable story from your military experience.

I remember calling home from basic training and telling my father whose flight and squadron I was assigned to and where I marched in formation. Because I was the tallest in my flight, I marched just behind the flag-bearer. It was during that call I learned he, too, was in the same squadron and had marched right behind the flag-bearer 30 years prior.

STEVEN MACKEY, CPHT, R.P.T.

PHARMACY TECHNICIAN

UF HEALTH SHANDS HOSPITAL PHARMACY

U.S. AIR FORCE: 20 YEARS

What did you gain from your military experience?

I learned responsibility and job completion.

TIMOTHY MARTIN, M.D.

ANESTHESIOLOGIST

UF COLLEGE OF MEDICINE ANESTHESIOLOGY

U.S. AIR FORCE: 24 YEARS

How did you benefit from your military experience?

In the military — regardless of branch of service, occupation or rank — one gains a valuable and sometimes newfound appreciation for discipline, leadership, chain of command, organization, communication and all those who have served our nation previously, and in some cases, made the ultimate sacrifice.

MICHAEL MATARAZA

MANAGER

UF HEALTH IT SERVICES NETWORK ENGINEERING

U.S. AIR FORCE: 4 YEARS

How do you apply your military experience to your work at UF Health?

The military provided me with structure and made me pay close attention to detail as it pertains to my everyday work habits. I try to use that same structure, doing things for a reason to accomplish a specific result, and attention to detail, having a plan of attack to accomplish your goals, in my job here at UF Health.

SCOTT MULLEN

HOSPITAL SERVICES COORDINATOR

LIFEQUEST ORGAN RECOVERY SERVICES

U.S. NAVY AND U.S. ARMY RESERVE: 14 YEARS

What made you interested in serving in the U.S. Armed Forces?

I chose to enlist in the U.S. Navy right after high school because of family tradition and the desire to see the world. I spent nine years on active duty as a Spanish and Russian cryptologic linguist. In the days following the tragedy of 9/11 and after a seven-year break in service, I enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve because I wanted to make a contribution following the horrific attack.

GARY NEAL SR.

SECURITY OPERATIONS MANAGER

UF HEALTH SHANDS SAFETY, SECURITY AND TRANSPORTATION

U.S. ARMY: 4 YEARS

Please share a memorable story from your military experience.

At 19, I was promoted and became the youngest squad leader for a weapons squad in the history of my unit. I was awarded the Army Achievement Medal for my accomplishment.

BRANDON OLENICK, RRT-ACCS

RESPIRATORY THERAPIST

UF HEALTH SHANDS RESPIRATORY ADULT CARE

U.S. ARMY: 4 YEARS

How do you apply your military experience to your work at UF Health?

The Army instilled in me many great qualities that helped me become the leader I am today. Some of these include relationship-building, leadership, teamwork, accountability, strategic thinking and loyalty, to name a few. I use these traits every day when working with my colleagues, our patients and their families.

JEREMY SIBISKI, M.B.A., M.H.A., FACHE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

UF COLLEGE OF MEDICINE FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

U.S. NAVY: 8 YEARS

What did you gain from your military experience?

I gained an appreciation for being part of a great family and team, where being at work is fun. I am thankful to be part of a similar team here at UF Health, where everyone here is trying to do what is best for the organization. We have nurses going the extra mile to make a patient comfortable, supply chain staff working hard to reduce costs and great physicians who are trying to improve the health of our patients and community.

LADD TOMLIN

SYSTEMS ANALYST

UF HEALTH SHANDS DECISION SUPPORT

U.S. NAVY: 10 YEARS

Please share a memorable story from your military experience.

While patrolling off the Russian coast, the submarine I was serving on struck an iceberg as it was ascending to periscope depth. We then exited the area at a very slow speed, surfaced the submarine, removed the periscope with a cutting torch (in subfreezing weather) and slowly transited to Adak, Alaska, for repairs.

ERIC TUGGLE, R.N.

REGISTERED NURSE

UF HEALTH SHANDS RADIATION ONCOLOGY

U.S. AIR FORCE AND U.S. ARMY RESERVE: 13 YEARS

How do you apply your military experience to your work at UF Health?

The experiences and knowledge I gained as a medic, then R.N., directly apply to my career in health care today. In addition to career experience, the wisdom I gained from my time in service has proven to be invaluable in everyday life.

LELA WRIGHT, R.N.

REGISTERED NURSE

UF HEALTH SHANDS CANCER HOSPITAL SURGICAL ICU

U.S. ARMY: 2 YEARS

What made you interested in serving in the U.S. Armed Forces?

I have always dreamed of being an Army nurse. I succeeded and was commissioned as a first lieutenant in 2016 with the 345th field hospital out of Jacksonville.

HEATHER YORK, R.N.

REGISTERED NURSE

UF HEALTH HEART & VASCULAR HOSPITAL CARDIAC ICU

U.S. ARMY: 5 YEARS

What did you gain from your military experience?

I gained self-confidence, discipline, financial independence and responsibility.