The Naval Center for Combat & Operational Stress Control (NCCOSC) presented Dr. Tracy Hejmanowski, Naval Hospital Jacksonville's Deployment Health Center clinical psychologist, with the Peabody Caregiver of the Year Award, Aug. 25, at the annual Combat and Operational Stress Control Symposium.

"The Peabody Caregiver of the Year Award spotlights the exemplary compassion and concern of a Navy Medicine caregiver who has demonstrated outstanding mental health care skills, values, attitudes and behaviors that embody compassionate concern and caring for patients," said Cmdr. Jean Fisak, deputy director, NCCOSC.

Since arriving at NH Jacksonville in 2007, Hejmanowski has been an innovator, using non-traditional modalities while applying evidence-based practices. Programs include SCUBA dive training with a post-traumatic stress disorder group, equine therapy, progressive exposure work, family programs, and tele-psychology.

Hejmanowski is often consulted by clinicians in the local community on best practices for care of patients who have deployed.

The Peabody Award is named for Dr. Francis W. Peabody, a renowned Harvard Medical School professor noted for his essay "The Care of the Patient."

This year's symposium was hosted by Naval Medical Center San Diego and featured topics such as post-traumatic stress, depression, sleep research, moral injury, and technological solutions to support clinical practice.

Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, NH Jacksonville's priority since its founding in 1941 is to heal the nation's heroes and their families. The command is comprised of the Navy's third largest hospital and five branch health clinics across Florida and Georgia. Of its patient population -- 163,000 active and retired Sailors, Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, guardsmen, and their families -- about 85,000 are enrolled with a primary care manager and Medical Home Port team at one of its facilities.

To find out more or download the command's mobile app, visit http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/navalhospitaljax/.

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