VA Physician, Provider of Year honored

A Minnesota doctor and an Oklahoma intensive care nurse are the VA Physician and Provider of the Year.

The awards were presented to Dr. Amy Candy Heinlein and Jillene Sroczynski on Tuesday at The American Legion’s Washington Conference.

Candy Heinlein was recognized for her work at the Minneapolis VA Healthcare System, where she began working as a physician in training in 2004. Following her year as a VA chief resident, she joined the staff in 2008.

Her nomination letter notes that Candy Heinlein’s patient satisfaction ratings are in the 99th percentile for the entire Minneapolis VA Healthcare System. Among the comments on patient satisfaction forms:

• “I can honestly say my doctor is of high intelligence and has my best interest in mind no matter what the issue might be.”

• “I could go to other providers with the Ins (insurance) I got. I stay with the VA because of the doctor.”

Heinlein serves as director of the Interprofessional Academic Patient Aligned Care Team for nearly 40 internal medicine residents. She also serves as an assistant residency director for all internal medicine residents rotating the VA.

Sroczynski was recognized for her work in the medical intensive care unit at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Oklahoma City.

Her nomination letter points out that with her qualifications, Sroczynski could work fewer hours at another hospital “but has chosen to stay at the VAMC because all the patients are veterans.”

Sroczynski is a veteran herself, having followed in her father’s footsteps to serve in the Air Force. She’s also a member of American Legion Post 353 in Mustang, Okla.