On Veteran's Day, Geraldo salutes veterans and the VA Northeast Ohio Heathcare System. Guests include:
Jill Dietrich– VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System Director – Dietrich over leadership of the healthcare system September 29, 2019. She came to Cleveland after serving as the first female Director / CEO for the Dayton VA Medical Center, a 390-bed, tertiary care facility with four VA outpatient clinics, caring for more than 40,000 Veterans annually. Prior to leading the Dayton VA, Ms. Dietrich served as Associate Director for VA Long Beach Healthcare System, beginning in June 2015. During her time in Long Beach, she was detailed to the Washington DC VA Medical Center in 2017 to assist in the aftermath of the interim OIG report regarding supply and staffing shortages. Ms. Dietrich has also served Veterans at VA medical centers in: Lebanon, Pennsylvania; Columbus, Ohio; Columbia, South Carolina; Montgomery/Tuskegee, Alabama; and Chicago, Illinois.
Tyler Estell – Fisher House Manager – Greater Cleveland Fisher House opened its doors in June 2019 and is a “home away from home” for families of military and Veterans receiving care from the Cleveland VA Medical Center and area hospitals. Cleveland has two, 16-suite homes that can accommodate up to 32 families at one time. Fisher Houses provide all of the comforts of home so families can rest and rejuvenate after a stressful day supporting their Veteran. More than 1,000 local and national donors raised $3.4 million to make the Greater Cleveland Fisher House possible.
Dr. Ron Riechers – Chief of Neurology for Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center & leading researcher in the country on traumatic brain injury (TBI). Served in the U.S. Army from 2000 to 2008. His entire military career was at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He entered the military during peacetime and served through 9-11 and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Was the attending neurologist and captain at Walter Reed in 2005 and tasked with leading the assessment, care and rehabilitation transitions for severely injured soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Frank Kozel – Volunteer & WWII Veteran – Frank served during WWII and could see the beaches of Normandy from his ship before they joined the fight with the 1st Army. Now at 96 and a retiree, Frank continues to serve as a volunteer helping his fellow Veterans at the Cleveland VA Medical Center.
Jeremy – Army OIF/OEF Veteran. Served as 11B Infantry and deployed to Iraq in 2006 and 2007. He shares how the VA has helped him in hopes that other Veterans will take advantage of the benefits they’ve earned and get the help that’s there for them.
Hear the show on Monday, November 11th from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on WTAM 1100, on 106.9 FM and on our free iHeartRadio app. wtam.com/listen
Photos by Ray Davis / iHeartMedia