Tribute to Veterans event celebrates service, shared connections
The military-to-civilian life transition is a significant one for service members. However, many veterans who join UT Southwestern say that the University aligns with their core values and continues their connection to a higher purpose as they launch the next chapters of their careers.
In recognition of National Veterans and Military Families Month in November, UTSW honored active and retired military faculty, employees, and students at its eighth annual Tribute to Veterans Celebration. The event, held Nov. 10, featured remarks from President Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D.; a keynote presentation from retired Col. Mark Raschke, Manager of Leadership Development at UT Southwestern; and closing remarks from Chris Rubio, Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for University Hospital. Mr. Rubio is also Executive Sponsor of the Veterans Business Resource Group (BRG).
In his speech titled “What Connects Us,” Mr. Raschke, a U.S. Army veteran with five deployments, including Operations Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, shared how his experience in the military fueled his passion for leadership development and service. He said he has a strong commitment to assisting veterans in their transition from military service to civilian employment.
Mr. Raschke asked audience members to think about where they were before joining UT Southwestern, whether with another company or in an entirely different industry. He then explained how lessons learned in previous experiences carry over and prepare us for opportunities and challenges in our current workplace.
“We all have different backgrounds,” Mr. Raschke said. “We all have a unique story, and we should embrace that. What connects us is that we have all chosen this career, this profession of service.”
Values in action
Mr. Raschke noted how the seven basic values of the Army match up with UT Southwestern’s values and PACT standards. PACT – which stands for problem-solving; ability, attitude, and accountability; communications and compassion; and teamwork – relates to putting these values into action to solve problems.
One takeaway from Mr. Raschke’s presentation was the importance of maintaining connection at all levels of the organization and building a culture in which every team member takes ownership of the problem at hand and collaborates with colleagues to make strides forward.
Dr. Podolsky commented on UT Southwestern’s expanding geographic footprint and the importance of building and maintaining meaningful connections with one another in order to advance the work of our mission. He highlighted the BRGs as one mechanism that exists to drive employee inclusion and engagement – including the Veterans BRG, which strives to elevate awareness and support of our military veterans.
The event, hosted by the Office of Institutional Equity and Access’ Division of Diversity and Inclusion and the Veterans BRG, included a presentation of the colors from the H. Grady Spruce High School Color Guard; a performance of The Star-Spangled Banner by Brittanny Anderson, Administrative Manager in Academic Recruitment; and a musical closure featuring the United States Armed Forces Medley.
Parting thoughts: Are leaders born or made?
“Leadership is a skill that can be learned,” Mr. Raschke told the audience during a brief Q&A session moderated by Mr. Rubio. “I’ve watched time and time again individuals learn skills that can make them successful in a leadership role. I think that some of our very best leaders are those who didn’t know that they had it in them. Sometimes that lightbulb moment happens when someone else taps them on the shoulder and says, ‘I see potential in you and I think you could do this,’ and challenges them to take on that next level in their career.”