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Nurses retire with 95 years of combined VA service

THREE NURSES FROM the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain retired June 30, with a combined 95 years of serving veterans. Recognizing their service were Andrea Collins, left, RN, associate director for nursing and patient care, and Deb Ruohomaki, right, RN, nurse manager for primary care. Shown from left are retirees Susan Gray, RN with 30 years; Carrie Champion, LPN with 32 years; and Carol Hinds, LPN with 33 years of federal service.

IRON MOUNTAIN – Three nurses retired from the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center on June 30, after serving a combined 95 years as VA nurses.

The retirees include Susan Gray, RN, 30 years; Carrie Champion, LPN, 32 years; and Carol Hinds, LPN, 33 years.

All three nurses worked in various and diverse areas of VA medicine. Gray began her career June 1987 at the Tomah VA and then transferred to the Iron Mountain facility. During her career, she served in the mental health, cardiology, nephrology, neurology, primary care and women’s wellness clinics as well as ICU.

Hinds started her career in 1978 after graduating from Bay de Noc Community College that same year, and worked in inpatient medical, respiratory, psychiatric and nursing home wards. Since 1999, she served in the primary care clinic and was also trained in optometry, neurology, oncology and telemedicine. During her career, she took time off to raise her children.

Champion graduated from Bay de Noc in 1983 and began her VA tenure in 1985. She also served in the inpatient psychiatric and nursing home wards. Since 1995, she has worked in the primary care and women’s wellness clinics.

“Working for the VA has been a wonderful experience,” Gray said. “We’ve been able to work in many diverse areas and our co-workers are the very best. They are dedicated, caring and knowledgeable.”

“Medicine has changed a lot since I became an RN, and the VA has been cutting edge in this aspect,” she added.

“The VA is always evolving, staying on the leading edge of medicine, always looking to better meet the veteran’s needs. I’m grateful to have been a part of it, and as the wife of a veteran, look forward to an ongoing relationship with the VA.”

All three nurses were recognized throughout their careers for individual performance and team awards. In addition, Champion was honored as a recipient of the Outstanding Federal Women’s Award and Hinds received the VA Excellence in Nursing Award.

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