We proudly honor the patriotism, bravery and selflessness of the 760 team members who have served or currently serve in the U.S. armed forces.
That’s why we’re highlighting the insights of the leads from one of our four new team member resource groups (TMRGs). The Veteran Employee Support Team (VEST) represents the U.S. armed forces community and their workplace allies, focusing on helping team members achieve a shared sense of comfort, connection and contribution.
Shane R. Walker
Senior Director of Infection Prevention (U.S. Navy)
Q:What role did you have in the military, and how did that cross over to civilian life?
A:
In the Navy, I served as an independent-duty corpsman. The scope of practice in the service was not something that crossed over well into civilian life. But it gave me the tools to apply and find success as a civilian.
I served 13 years in the Navy after joining immediately after high school. In essence, that was my first and only real job for the formative years of my life. Although the military was instrumental in understanding an inclusionary way of thinking, there were challenges adapting to communication style and conflict resolution.
Q:Do you feel a level of support for military vets here at WellSpan? How so?
A:
WellSpan Health has been my employer of choice for the past 15 years. My experience is WellSpan is in full support of veterans, reservists and National Guard. The inclusion of veterans as one of the first four TMRGs proves the organization’s dedication.
Q:What advice would you give to someone looking to leave the military and transition into a civilian role in healthcare?
A:
Be confident! Your experience provides the history and ability to be reliable, dedicated, and selfless. This foundation is important and positions one well to support the complex and caring roles of healthcare.
David Whitcomb
Professional Development Specialist (U.S. Army)
Q:What role did you have in the military, and how did that cross over to civilian life?
A:
I was a military police officer. Handling emergencies and diffusing potentially volatile situations is a crucial skill to have in health care. Experience in leading teams and working collaboratively in high-pressure situations helped with the crossover as well.
Q:Do you feel a level of support for military vets here at WellSpan? How so?
A:
Yes, WellSpan actively supports military veterans through initiatives. Veterans are recognized at activities such as flag-raising ceremonies. Additionally, we have established a TMRG specifically for veterans, known as VEST, which helps foster a sense of community and support.
Q:What advice would you give to someone looking to leave the military and transition into a civilian role in health care?
A:
Slow down! Take your time deciding what you want to do and realize that regardless of what job you held, being a solider in the United States military requires skills that directly translate to many jobs in the civilian life.
Veterans are welcome at WellSpan
As a veteran-ready employer, we’re committed to hiring and supporting military and veteran employees. We offer many civilian career opportunities that match your military background, skills and interests.
Do you want to transition to health care? Shane's advice is simple: be confident. Your military experience has given you a strong foundation of trust, dedication and kindness. Here are two resources to get you started:
Translate your military background
into the civilian workforce. Join our talent community for veterans.
Share your attributes with us when you apply.
Team members and applicants can voluntarily and confidentially share their identity attributes with WellSpan, including military experience. This helps us identify trends, conditions or disparities felt by our team members, remove barriers in our policies and practices and create action plans to ensure opportunities to excel.
Need help translating your military skills? Contact Scarlett McGary, smcgary4@wellspan.org.