New Initiative Honors Veteran Patients at End of Life

When Moffitt Cancer Center teams unite on a common goal, remarkable things happen. In a joint effort to honor veteran patients, multiple teams worked together to create Moffitt’s new Inpatient Veteran Initiative.

What is the Inpatient Veteran Initiative?

The initiative was developed to honor and thank hospitalized veteran who are in hospice care or on comfort measures. These patients are recognized by a sign placed outside their room which reads, “We remember your service and sacrifice, thank you, veteran. With honor and gratitude,” and is signed by Moffitt and its team member engagement network for military veterans, MVets. 

With this small gesture, the patient is recognized for their bravery, past and present. Anyone involved in the patient's care may display the sign. This includes the patient's physician, nurses, medical assistants, social worker or chaplain.

How the Initiative Began

The idea sparked with social workers during an end of life committee meeting as a way to honor veterans. A few months later at an MVets meeting, a member suggested developing a way to honor Moffitt’s veteran patient population.

Moffitt social worker and Air Force veteran Brianna Holman attended both meetings. Excited by the opportunity, she volunteered to take the lead, bringing the teams together to spearhead the project.

Holman’s colleague and fellow social worker Alicia Wlodynski suggested the concept of a sign. The idea was met with overwhelming support.

With the wheels now in motion, Holman began creating the initial design for the sign. Within a few weeks, the signs were proudly displayed outside the rooms of veteran patients.

The sign serves as a quiet tribute recognizing the service and sacrifice of veteran patients.

On a Mission

“Teams were eager to come together and quickly put this initiative in place,” Holman shared.

Holman was the catalyst bringing Moffitt teams together, and by doing so, found a unique way to merge her military service with her role as a social worker. In the Air Force, she served as an EMT medic for almost five years. After becoming a Moffitt team member in January 2024, Holman joined MVets and was recently elected as a board member for the group.

Holman says she’s proud to work for an organization that values military service. “This initiative highlights Moffitt as a veteran-inclusive business. I like that the cancer center takes action in the advocacy of veteran employees through MVets, as well as several other Moffitt teams to show honor to our veteran patients.”