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Shands Salutes Our Veterans

In honor of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, we want to share the stories of two Shands employees who have served our country.

Wayne Dwarica, RN, University of Florida Hematology/Oncology Clinic at Shands Medical Plaza nurse, and Michael T. Johnson, LCSW, Shands at UF Patient and Family Resources Social Work Services case manager, both served as members of the US Armed Forces.

Wayne Dwarica, RN

Dwarica was active duty in the Army from 1980-1992, was commissioned as an officer in 2003 and now serves in the Army Reserves. Johnson was active duty in the Army from 1977-1978, a member of the US Public Health Services from 1978-1981 and is currently a member of the active USPHS Reserves.

In March 2008, Dwarica was deployed to Iraq for one year.
There, he worked as assistant head nurse for the Immediate Care Ward. He spent 90 days in Baghdad working with detainees and said his time there was the most difficult part of his tour.

“Knowing I had a supportive family at home and that I was supporting my comrades-in-arms was instrumental in keeping me grounded while I was deployed,” Dwarica said.

Michael T. Johnson, LCSW

Johnson’s service with the Army began in 1977, when he received a Regular Army commission while preparing to graduate from Tuskegee University. He later received a USPHS scholarship. After attending the University of Louisville for graduate school, he accepted his second commission from the USPHS, which works on the front line for promoting public health, disease-prevention and advancement in health sciences.

Johnson said his most rewarding experiences with the USPHS were in Hurtsboro, Ala., where he served as a public health officer and social work consultant for the state. He was sent to this area to help treat pregnant women and newborns in rural communities with high rates of maternal and infant mortality.

Johnson also helped develop the first mobile health programs for Alabama public schools, which provided students with vision, hearing, physical and dental exams — services many of them could not afford otherwise.

“I always try to thank Shands employees and volunteers who are veterans for the sacrifices they and their families made for our country,” Johnson said. “I appreciate that Shands takes the time every year to recognize those who have served.”

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