Did you know that September is National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month? We spoke with Angela Weir, RN CCRN and Director of Medical Services at PVA, to share how PVA helps Veterans with spinal cord injuries and diseases like MS and ALS; and VA medical centers across the country, as well as what people can […]
Paralyzed Veterans of America Blog
Interview with Angela Weir, RN, Director of Medical Services for Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month
Interview with Charles Brown, Immediate Past President
Hello, and thank you for listening to PVA’s Audio Newsletters. I’m Victoria Deck, digital strategist at Paralyzed Veterans of America. Joined by my colleague, Vance. Charles Brown served as president of PVA from 2021 to 2023. Now that he is transitioning into his current role as Immediate Past President with the Executive Committee, we met […]
Interview with Pete Demarkis, National Service Officer
Hello, and thank you for listening to PVA’s Audio Newsletters. I’m Victoria Deck, Digital Strategist at Paralyzed Veterans of America. After injuries prevented him from re-enlisting in the Army, Senior National Service Officer Pete Demarkis still wanted to find other ways to serve his country. That’s when a friend and fellow Veteran introduced him to […]
PVA Applauds VA’s Progress on Promoting Access to Voting Registration
A recent report, Strengthening Democracy: A Progress Report on Federal Agency Action to Promote Access to Voting, reviewed federal agencies’ progress in meeting the goal to expand citizens’ opportunities to participate in the electoral process. On March 7, 2021, the Administration issued an Executive Order (EO) 14019 on Promoting Access to Voting. The EO directed […]
PVA Applauds Increased Access to Voter Registration for Veterans with Disabilities
In honor of National Voter Registration Day, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced expanded opportunities for veterans who use certain VA facilities to register to vote. PVA members are honorably discharged veterans who have a spinal cord injury (SCI) or disorder. Many of them use VA medical centers for recovery, rehabilitation, and their ongoing […]
Darah Gerou, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
Darah Gerou has dedicated her professional career advocating for people with disabilities and Veterans. Her passion for disability advocacy, as well the fact that she was raised by not one but two Marine Corps Veterans, gave her important skills she brought to her position as the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for PVA’s Veteran Career Program. Hi […]
Interview with Christi Hillman, Associate Director of Membership and Volunteers
What led you to your current role as the Associate Director of Membership and Volunteers? What does it entail? I began working in PVA’s membership and volunteer department as a temp in 2008, when I first moved to the U.S from Canada. I was hired on permanently in 2009 as the department secretary. Since then, […]
Interview with Fred Downs, Prosthetics Consultant
Hello, and thank you for taking the time to check out PVA’s monthly newsletter. I’m Vance Padmore, and today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Fred Downs.Nothing in this great world has been accomplished without passion. And it’s clear that Fred Downs is passionate. After losing an arm after serving in Vietnam and beating […]
Interview with Roscoe Butler, Senior Health Policy Advisor
What do you do as PVA’s Senior Health Policy Advisor? I’m responsible for reviewing all matters pertaining to Veterans’ healthcare, especially Veterans suffering from spinal cord injuries and disorders, ALS and MS. I’m also responsible for keeping the organization abreast of any changes that the VA may be considering and providing input into whether they […]
Interview with Cheryl Vines, Director of Research and Education
Tell us about yourself. What led you to your role as the Director of Research and Education? I’ve spent my whole career working with people with spinal cord injuries, first in the area of treatment, and then case management, and then research. I came to PVA to utilize all those skills to get information about […]