NEWS

TDH Joins Hiring Our Heroes Fellowship Program NEWS

Wednesday, Feb 27, 2019

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Health is now participating in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program. U.S. Army Operations and Information Technology Manager Caitlin Whitmire is now serving in the TDH Division of Health Disparities for her fellowship assignment. The state of Tennessee’s participation in Hiring Our Heroes is facilitated by the Tennessee Department of Human Resources. TDH is one of three state agencies participating in the program this year.

 

“We’re excited to be part of this effort to recruit employees with a mission and desire to serve others,” said TDH Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP. “Our military service members bring valuable skills including teamwork, integrity, excellence and leadership. These qualities align well with our values and our mission to protect, promote and improve health.”

 

The HOH Corporate Fellowship Program provides training and hands-on experience for service members transitioning to the civilian workforce. The professional development offered through the program prepares candidates for a smooth transition into meaningful civilian careers. Participating organizations benefit by gaining access to the best and brightest transitioning service members while developing a more comprehensive understanding of the veteran job market.

 

“As I planned for my transition from the U.S. Army, it was very important for me to intern in a position that allowed me to carry on a high degree of mission-driven success. The Tennessee Department of Health allows me to do just that,” said Whitmire. “In the first week I could already say this team is full of motivated leaders who work tirelessly to provide the best opportunities for Tennesseans and really set the standard at a national level. I am very thankful for the opportunity to work with TDH and excited to see what the future holds.”

 

In her position with TDH, Whitmire will provide communications support within the Division of Health Disparities, support performance excellence initiatives and assist with project management and workforce development. 

 

Whitmire has served as an active duty member of the U.S. Army since 2014 with experience as an operations and communications supervisor and an information technology director. She has skills in project management and operations, process improvement, quality assurance, training and development. Whitmire earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Syracuse University in New York and is currently pursuing her Project Management Professional Certification and Six Sigma Green Belt Certification. Her previous assignments include Fort Bragg, NC; Fort Hood, Texas and the Middle East. During her military tenure she served as a paratrooper, ran the Army Ten Miler with her ROTC team and ruck-marched the Boston Marathon in support of Team RWB.

 

Whitmire has been placed with TDH through the Fort Campbell Corporate Fellowship Program, an approved Army Career Skills Program. Service members continue to receive military pay and benefits while participating in the program.

 

Launched in 2011, Hiring Our Heroes is a nationwide initiative to help veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses find meaningful employment. Working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s vast network of state and local chambers and other strategic partners from the public, private and nonprofit sectors, Hiring Our Heroes has helped hundreds of thousands of veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment through more than 1,200 job fairs in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia and on military installations overseas; a suite of free online career-based resources and the Hiring 500,000 Heroes campaign. Learn more at www.hiringourheroes.org.  

 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is dedicated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness. It educates the public on the conditions necessary for business and communities to thrive, how business positively impacts communities and emerging issues and creative solutions that will shape the future. Learn more at www.uschamberfoundation.org .

 

The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. Learn more about TDH services and programs at www.tn.gov/health.  

 

This news release can be accessed online at www.tn.gov/health/news.html.   

 

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