Happy Veterans Day! SHARE honors our many members who have served in the US Armed Forces. We are grateful to those of you who made such an important commitment to our country. We hope you will enjoy this day on which Americans celebrate and serve you. And we thank you for helping to keep our hospital going strong . . . especially if you are working to keep patients well on this holiday.
SHARE also encourages veterans to take advantage of the UMass Memorial Veterans Employee Resource Group (ERG). In case you missed it, hospital leaders sent a message earlier today describing that the ERG “is a resource available to all our veteran caregivers or family members of veterans. The Veterans ERG is a systemwide resource with the goal of supporting and recognizing veterans in our workplace and in the community. If you would like to get involved or have questions about the Veterans ERG, please contact the co-chairs, Sherri Gentile at sherri.gentile@umassmemorial.org or Adriana Dietlin at adriana.dietlin@umassmemorial.org.”
Below, we recognize Natalia Bessette, a Combat Medic who served with the Massachusetts Army National Guard who currently works as Financial Clearance Specialist in our hospital. Thank you, Natalia!
SGT Natalia Bessette (Steidle)
Combat Medic
Massachusetts Army National Guard
Served 2009-2021
Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan 2012-2013
The day Natalia surprised her family by returning home from Afghanistan.
I enlisted in the MARNG with the want to provide medical care to soldiers. At the time, I wasn't sure just what the was going to involve but made a promise to myself that I would only accept an enlistment as Health Care Specialist aka Combat Medic. During my 12 years with the MARNG, I was able to do just that, as the sole medical provider for a platoon of 30+ soldiers of the 181 Engineer Company (Vertical) Afghanistan , a Treatment Team Leader in the 182 Infantry Regiment to rounding out my career with the Massachusetts Medical Command, aiding in the Medical Readiness of Massachusetts National Guard soldiers. After 12 years, I chose to separate from the Military with an abundance of knowledge and continue my career in the medical field with UMass Memorial.