WASHINGTON — The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is demanding that a Department of Veterans Affairs program manager at the VA Medical Center in Indianapolis be replaced.
Last December, Ms. Robin Paul sent an e-mail to her staff with photos of a toy elf in different poses and captions, two of which made light of mental health issues. Paul oversees a staff of more than 30 health care professionals in the Seamless Transition Integrated Care Clinic, which is responsible for assisting new veterans with their VA benefits, services and programs, to include mental health.
“There is nothing amusing about 22 veterans committing suicide every day,” said VFW National Commander John W. Stroud, “and it is absolutely inexcusable that a VA supervisor would make light of any issue that veterans face. Ms. Paul might be the most caring and dedicated employee the VA has, but this senseless attempt at gallows humor has caused her to lose the respect and trust of veterans. It is for that reason that the VFW demands she be replaced as program manager. Trust within the military means everything; it should mean no less inside the VA.”
As of this morning, Paul was still listed as the STICC program manager on the Indianapolis VA’s website.
Update: VA Employee at Center of Email Controversy Removed From Position; Email Called 'Unacceptable'