All posts by Jeff Cavanagh

About Jeff Cavanagh

Jeff Cavanagh spent his freshman year at St. Petersburg Junior College back in the early 70s before enlisting in the United States Navy. Soon after, he attended Jacksonville University on a Navy ROTC scholarship. After college, he was commissioned and became a qualified Surface Warfare Officer spending the next 22 years honing his skills as a ship-handler and expert recruiter before retiring in 1994. Jeff expresses a deep sense of pride in St. Petersburg College due to connections that go back many years. His father, Tom Cavanagh, was a career Air Force fighter pilot and combat veteran who taught Geography and Western Civilization at St. Petersburg Junior College in the 60’s and 70’s.

NEW! FLORIDA NATIONAL GUARD SCHOLARSHIP!

General News, Scholarships

The Florida National Guard Foundation has established a scholarship program to assist members of the Florida Army and Air National Guard in pursuing advanced educational and academic opportunities. The scholarship program is open to the dependents of enlisted, commissioned and warrant officers of the Florida Army and Air National Guard. These scholarships are awarded annually for eligible applicants who are currently attending or have been accepted for attendance at an accredited college, university, or vocational technical school in the State of Florida. This scholarship program is administered by the Board of Directors of the Florida National Guard Foundation.

 

  1. Eligibility:

 

  1. Guard members and their
  2. Current student in good standing at an accredited college, university, or vocational technical school in the State of Applicants may also be a graduating high school senior accepted to attend an accredited college, university, or vocational technical school in the State of Florida.
  3. This scholarship is open only to those who have NOT received a scholarship in the past three years from the National Guard Association of Florida or the Florida National Guard Foundation.

 

  1. Evaluation Criteria: Scholarships are awarded based on the following criteria:

 

  1. Academics: Applicants must be in good standing with their school as evidenced by including a transcript in their High school seniors must also include a copy of their college acceptance letter. Applicants must demonstrate average or above average academic achievement, as evidenced by previous grades, test scores, etc.
  2. Citizenship: Applicants must show civic and moral leadership and character including truthfulness, courage, and devotion to the community and to the country as evidenced by letters, certificates or other supporting documentation. Applicants must submit information demonstrating civic involvement, moral leadership, character that indicates commitment to community, state and/or

 

  1. Application procedures:

 

  1. The National Guard Foundation Executive Director notifies each Family Readiness Coordinator of the application process and the deadline for packet Information concerning the

 

scholarship is available on the Foundation website: www.floridanationalguardfoundation.org.

 

  1. Applications must be completed by the applicant and received in the Foundation office no later than 10 June 2017. INCOMPLETE OR LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE The packets can be mailed to FLNG Foundation, P.O. Box 717, St. Augustine, FL 32085-0717 or emailed to flngfoundation@gmail.com. You will receive an email when your packet is received.

 

  1. Each application is reviewed and boarded by a Board of Directors of the Florida National Guard The applications are evaluated based on academics, citizenship and need. The decision of the Board of Directors is final and all those who submitted an application will be notified either by mail or email by 10 July 2017.

 

  1. Application packet contents:

 

  1. Application packet
  2. Scholarship application Must be signed by the applicant.
  3. Copies of high school or college transcripts reflecting grades through the fall semester immediately prior to the application deadline. On-line and “student copy” transcripts are acceptable. Graduating seniors must also include a copy of their college acceptance letter.
  4. A brief statement with specific facts as to desire to continue education and anticipated occupation or The statement must include the impact the scholarship would have on the applicant’s ability to reach their academic goals.

 

  1. Three letters of recommendation that provides personal character references of the applicant. Letters may not be provided by individuals related to the applicant.

 

In 2017, the Foundation will award up to $25,000 in scholarships. The number of scholarships awarded will depend on the number of eligible applications received. The Jere Cook Scholarship will be awarded to an applicant in the Engineering Field. And the William Sunday Endowment will award two $250.00 awards to assist a Guardsman attending school.

 

Applications must be received by 10 June.

 

Bay Pines Recognized Nationally as a “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality”

General News

Today, the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System (VAHCS) announced their “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization. The designation was reported in the 10th edition of the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), reflecting on a decade of progress in LGBTQ healthcare. A record 590 healthcare facilities actively participated in the HEI 2017 survey. Of those facilities, about 45 were VA medical centers. In addition to active survey participants, the HRC Foundation proactively researched key policies at more than 900 non-participating hospitals. Of all those included in the HEI, 302 earned a “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” designation.

“We are extremely proud of being recognized as a national leader in healthcare equality by the HRC for the fifth year in a row,” said Suzanne M. Klinker, Director, Bay Pines VAHCS. “The designation received from the HRC demonstrates our commitment to equitable, inclusive care for all Veterans and aligns with our strategic goal of becoming a 5-star organization in healthcare quality and customer service,” she said.

Other VA facilities recognized by HRC in Florida include the Miami VA Healthcare System, Orlando VA Medical Center, and James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital located in Tampa.

The 10th edition of the HEI implements new criteria that raise the bar on what it takes to earn HRC’s “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” designation. For the first time ever, HEI participants are given scores in four criteria that represent how many policies and best practices from each section they have implemented: foundational elements of LGBTQ patient-centered care, LGBTQ Patient Services and Support, Employee Benefits and Policies, and LGBTQ Patient and Community Engagement. Participants that receive the maximum score in each section for a total score of 100 points earn the coveted status of “2017 Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality.”

In the 2017 report, an impressive 302 facilities — 51 percent of those actively participating in the survey — met the more challenging criteria to earn this designation. Another 145 facilities earned the “Top Performer” designation for scoring from 80 to 95 points. With 76 percent of actively-participating facilities scoring 80 points or more, it is clear that healthcare facilities are going beyond the basics in adopting policies and practices in LGBTQ care.

Of the hospitals who did not participate in the HEI but were scored based on research, only 61 percent have policies that include both “sexual orientation” and “gender identity,” and only 52 percent were found to have an LGBTQ-inclusive employment non-discrimination policy. The equal visitation policy, at 95 percent, is the only one that comes close to matching the rate of the participating facilities.

“The 2017 HEI reminds us again that though we have made tremendous gains over the past decade, there is still much more work left for us to do. With some of our biggest battles still ahead of us, it is crucial that institutions continue to demonstrate that the march toward full equality is not slowing down,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “The 590 participants in this year’s HEI continue this march in partnership with the LGBTQ community. For the past decade, the HEI has been the roadmap to closing the gap in ensuring equal care to LGBTQ patients and their families, and we urge every healthcare facility to join us in this continuing effort to provide inclusive care to all.”

For more information about the Healthcare Equality Index 2016, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/hei. 

 

VA, DOD study a major breakthrough for understanding PTSD

General News

Researchers from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DOD) recently released findings of a new study called Prospective Post-Traumatic Stress disorder Symptom Trajectories in Active Duty and Separated Military Personnel, which examines Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms in Veterans, compared with active-duty populations.

This is the first known study comparing PTSD symptom trajectories of current service members with those of Veterans, and is the product of a collaborative effort from VA and DOD researchers analyzing data from the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), the largest prospective health study of military service members.

According to VA’s National Center for PTSD, the PTSD rate among Vietnam Veterans was 30.9 percent for men and 26.9 percent for women. For Gulf War Veterans, the PTSD rate was 12.1 percent. Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans had a PTSD rate of 13.8 percent.

“Knowing there are similarities in how PTSD affects service members and Veterans makes it easier to pinpoint which treatments are the best to control the condition,” said Dr. Edward Boyko, an epidemiologist and internist at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Washington state, and VA’s lead researcher on the Millennium Cohort Study.

Officials involved with the project said they are hoping the collaboration will improve the understanding of Veterans’ health needs, relative to their experiences in service.

“The data that MCS researchers have been collecting since 2001 is incredibly valuable for both the DOD and VA,” said Dr. Dennis Faix, director of the Millennium Cohort Study and preventive medicine physician. “Going forward, working with VA will allow both agencies to make sure we are getting the best information to develop a comprehensive understanding of the continuum of health in current and former service members.”

The results of the joint VA DOD study will appear in the Journal of Psychiatric Research’s June 2017 issue. It is the first of many joint future publications expected to result from the collaboration between VA and MCS.

You can learn more about the study here: http://millenniumcohort.org/.

 

Lee County VA Townhall

Events, General News

The Bay Pines VA Healthcare System (VAHCS) will host a Veterans town hall meeting on Wednesday, April 12 from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.  at the Lee County Healthcare Center located at 2489 Diplomat Parkway East, Cape Coral, FL 33909.  The event will take place in the main lobby located on the first floor of the building. 

VA outreach services and program representatives will be available prior to the event starting at 3:00 p.m.  to assist Veterans. Services available will include VA health care enrollment and eligibility; VA benefits assistance; and patient advocate services.

Veterans and their families, congressional stakeholders, Veteran Service Organizations and other community partners are invited to attend.

During the town hall, VA officials will provide updates on VA operations and improvement initiatives regarding VA health care operations across the Bay Pines VAHCS. Veterans and their families will have an opportunity to comment publicly about VA programs and services.

For updated information about the Veterans town hall meeting or to learn more about the Bay Pines VAHCS, please visit www.baypines.va.gov.  

 

Veterans Medical-Legal Partnership program

Benefits, General News

With a stroke of pen, the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System (VAHCS) and several local law partners ushered in a new legal program for Veterans during an agreement signing ceremony last month at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center.

Click here to watch the full video story.

During the event, dozens of leaders from the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Stetson University Veterans Law Institute, Bay Area Legal Services, and Gulf Coast Legal Services gathered to recognize the start of the new Medical-Legal Partnership program – an achievement many months in the making.

“Today’s celebration at the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System of our Medical-Legal Partnership represents an amazing start to the services Veterans and their families will receive here from our law partners and Stetson University,” said Suzanne M. Klinker, Director, Bay Pines VAHCS.

“[The program] is a terrific collaboration with our community in service to America’s heroes, and it makes a big difference for them and for us in helping them support their health outcomes and reach their goals,” she said.

MLP is a new program available at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center designed specifically for Veterans enrolled for care in our healthcare system who are in need of legal representation and/or consultation for non-criminal offenses, who may not otherwise be able to afford legal representation.

Services available to Veterans through the new program range from Veterans benefits and Social Security Disability, to family law, guardianship, landlord-tenant disputes and elder law.

The service is available to Veterans every Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center, building 100, room 1E-241.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call 727-398-9592 or visit www.baypines.va.gov/services/MLP.asp.

VA’s rule establishes presumption of service connection for diseases associated with exposure to contaminants in water supply at Camp Lejeune

Benefits, General News
  WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) regulations to establish presumptions for the service connection of eight diseases associated with exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, are effective as of today.

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) regulations to establish presumptions for the service connection of eight diseases associated with exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, are effective as of today.

“Establishing these presumptions is a demonstration of our commitment to care for those who have served our nation and have been exposed to harm as a result of that service,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Dr. David J. Shulkin. “The Camp Lejeune presumptions will make it easier for those Veterans to receive the care and benefits they earned.”

The presumption of service connection applies to active-duty, reserve and National Guard members who served at Camp Lejeune for a minimum of 30 days (cumulative) between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987, and are diagnosed with any of the following conditions:

•           Adult leukemia

•           Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes

•           Bladder cancer

•           Kidney cancer

•           Liver cancer

•           Multiple myeloma

•           Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

•           Parkinson’s disease

The area included in this presumption is all of Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River, including satellite camps and housing areas.

This presumption complements the health care already provided for 15 illnesses or conditions as part of the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012. The Camp Lejeune Act requires VA to provide health care to Veterans who served at Camp Lejeune, and to reimburse family members or pay providers for medical expenses for those who resided there for not fewer than 30 days between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987.

  

 

Titan Basketball Team Enters the Second Round at the NJCAA National Tournament

Events, General News

The St. Petersburg College Men’s Basketball team will be battling it out against #2 Hutchinson Community College in the Second Round of the NJCAA National Tournament.  The Titans are coming off of a 70-53 victory over Highlands Community College (IL).  Please click here for a game recap and photos from the Hutch Newspaper.  The Titans were led by NJCAA Region VIII Player of the Year, Jason Burnell.  Burnell had 20 points and 13 rebounds in the SPC victory and looks to continue his dominance tomorrow against the Hutch Community College Blue Dragons.  Tip-off is scheduled for 1pm EST Wednesday the 22nd!  The game can be viewed live at www.njcaatv.com! 

 

A Message from Aimee Stubbs:

Events

Register now for the 18th Annual Narrowing the Gulf Conference for Underrepresented Students in Postsecondary Education

The conference will be held April 6-7, 2017 at SPC’s EpiCenter. The annual event is sponsored by St. Petersburg College Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), Florida Association on Higher Education and Disability (FL-AHEAD) and St. Petersburg College’s Accessibility Services Department.

The conference is free to all SPC staff and faculty.

REGISTER NOW!

www.spcollege.edu/ntg