It is the Executive Committee’s proud honor to announce and recognize the 2012 Officer of the Branch award winner, Commander Brenda Cook.
We would like to recognize CDR Cook for her significant contributions to the nursing category at Southcentral Foundation (SCF). During the Billet Transformation, CDR Cook ensured that the billet of each nurse officer matched their roles and responsibilities as case manager, mentor and lead while performing her regular duties as Chief Nurse Executive. CDR Cook understood the importance of an appropriately assigned billet and ensured the accuracy of each commissioned officer’s billet. CDR Cook established the nurse mentor role which supports over 150 nurses at SCF. These mentor roles have provided leadership positions and professional growth for staff nurses and commissioned officers. Due to her diligence in ensuring the appropriate billet, creating leadership roles and her continuing support of commissioned officers the overall job satisfaction is high and many of the nursing vacancies at SCF have been filled by officers. CDR Cook is a model senior officer, reliable contact and resource for nurse officers with questions, concerns, or issues regarding the Commissioned Corps. She has gone above and beyond her regular daily duties by contacting the appropriate personnel to assist nurse officers.
CDR Cook exemplifies our PHS core values of Leadership, Service, Integrity and Excellence.
The Officer of the Branch Award will be presented at the February COA Meeting. Fellow Officers please make plans to attend and help congratulate CDR Brenda Cook.
Dorothy Griffith RN, MSN, CMCN
CDR, U.S. Public Health Service