Marine Veteran brings turtle power to Milwaukee VA

Maloney’s passion for helping others, coupled with a belief rooted in Native tradition, inspires him to recruit providers, Veterans, caregivers, staff – and just about anyone he meets – into his self-proclaimed “turtle power” club. 

A regular on the Milwaukee VA campus, he is often seen distributing turtle charms and spreading his mantra for patient advocacy. 

Slow and steady wins the race

Many years ago, Maloney split his time between various construction jobs in Madison, Wis. and teaching math in West Virginia. 

The West Virginia medical school – where his wife was a professor of pharmacology – hosted Native American pow wows. 

It was at one of these pow wows that Maloney got the inspiration and symbolism for his turtle club.  

He assisted an elder from the Seneca Nation with unloading his truck and asked about the significance of the turtle in Native traditions. 

“He told me, ‘turtles are good listeners, and they give good advice,’” Maloney said. 

The turtle’s attributes resonated deeply with Jimmy.

Inspired by this wisdom, he approached the dean of schools to propose adopting the turtle as the school’s mascot. 

Though the request for a turtle mascot was ultimately denied, it sparked the beginning of Jimmy’s personal mission to spread “turtle power”.  

He bought bulk quantities of turtle keychain charms and distributed them to medical students on campus.

Each turtle charm Maloney presented was meant to be a reminder for the new doctors to be good listeners and to give good advice. 

No stranger to hospitals

Time passed, Maloney’s own health condition deteriorated, and dialysis appointments at the Milwaukee VA became a regular thing in his life.

Fortunately, he matched for a kidney transplant and his health improved. Eventually this second chance at life inspired him to give back by volunteering at the VA hospital. 

And with that, the turtle power mission was introduced to this new setting. 

Maloney started by giving turtle charms to doctors as a token of appreciation, but soon he expanded his efforts by including fellow Veteran patients. 

Jimmy made it a tradition to welcome new staff — particularly those in the oncology department— to his “Turtle Club.” 

“You can’t work here until you see me first,” Jimmy joked, referring to the turtle charm he gives to everyone who joins the team. 

His lighthearted approach brings joy and camaraderie to the VA, and his turtle charms can be seen adorning lanyards or shirt buttons throughout the facility. 

Shell yeah!

Elizabeth Zamora, a voluntary services assistant thinks that turtle power is an amazing concept, and she is a turtle-charm carrying member of Maloney’s unofficial club. 

“Jimmy’s volunteer support is monumental because he is a consistent and positive force every day,” Zamora said. “He supports his fellow Veterans, along with staff, by just being friendly and letting everyone know that he loves them.”

During a facility-wide hospital inspection Jimmy made sure that even the inspectors got their turtles.

“At first they were skeptical,” Maloney said. “But, once they learned the meaning behind the token turtle, they quickly embraced the spirit of turtle power.”  

Maloney’s unique blend of Marine seriousness, adopted Native wisdom and genuine empathy makes him the perfect ambassador for patient advocacy at Milwaukee VA.

 Maloney explained his intentions for the recipient of a turtle charm. “Hopefully it gives them the motivation to speak up, advocate for themselves – especially in this age of medicine.” 

Through this small act of kindness, Jimmy ensures that everyone who joins his Turtle Club feels like they’re part of something bigger – united by the strength of “turtle power.”

His hope is that collectively members of the Turtle Club will embody the symbolic qualities of the turtle, in wisdom, patience and protection to form a strong health care team. 

“The care and support he (Maloney) shows is not put on,” Zamora said. “It comes from someplace real, and I feel that echoes through the hospital; everyone’s mission here is greater than our own.”