Bay Pines VA Invests in Mental Health Care Through Enrichment Program
Health care professionals at Bay Pines VA Healthcare System are continuously working to support the whole health of Veterans and their loved ones. In furtherance of that goal, several staff from the mental health service are leaning on the Bay Pines Enrichment Program.
“We have a real need for mental health professionals in our healthcare system and according to projections, the demand for services is going to get even higher,” said Bay Pines VA Chief of Mental Health Dr. Rodrigo Velezmoro. “Providers who are well equipped at the start of their career do better and stick around longer. What I love about this program is that it’s heavily focused on participants’ professional growth.”
Psychologists typically have two years after they graduate to complete their licensure requirements. Unfortunately, new psychologists sometimes struggle during their first year of employment. Armed with this awareness, Dr. Velezmoro directed a group of health care professionals to develop a program that counteracts this occurrence.
Bay Pines VA Neuropsychologist Dr. Deborah Radmanesh and Bay Pines VA Home Based Primary Care Psychologist Dr. Eric Sullivan are two members of that group who were instrumental in the launch of the two-year mentoring program.
“Transitioning from being a student to a full-time staff member can be a big shift,” said Dr. Sullivan. “This program is personally meaningful to me because I felt adrift when I started working at the VA. I’m glad we can now offer a more structured experience for the psychologists who will join our team.”
The innovative enrichment program, which was launched nearly one year ago, is the first of its kind at Bay Pines VA, and it aims to promote the licensure, retention, and successful transition for staff who recently earned a doctorate in psychology.
“This is another level of being able to provide a nurturing and supportive environment for those who may not have the same level of guidance as they did when they were still in graduate school,” Dr. Radmanesh stated.
In its first year, the program provided eight participants access to weekly seminars which were led by senior staff. The seminars provided additional resources related to professional success, work-life balance, and various professional development topics. Recently, the program was expanded to support mental health social workers. The ultimate goal is to expand it to include all disciplines within the mental health service.
“This is a great concept, especially for people who have little to no experience with the VA,” said Bay Pines VA Clinical Psychologist Dr. Doug Caro, who is a member of the first iteration of participants. “Joining the program has been a great way for me to become familiar with my job and the organization. This resource has really allowed me to do my job in a better capacity.”