Lisa Y. Perla, PhD, MSN, CFNP, is a licensed and certified family nurse practitioner and a certified case manager and rehabilitation registered nurse. Dr. Perla earned her PhD in nursing research and the prestigious VA Jonas Scholars award from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. Dr. Perla's work encompasses numerous clinical and administrative roles in the areas of emergency medicine, medical and surgical transplantation, intensive care, and rehabilitation medicine. She is a national speaker on the topics of neurological emergencies and leadership. Dr. Perla's current work is in Veterans' Affairs, Central Office in Washington, DC. She is the National Polytrauma Coordinator for Veterans with multiple trauma and brain injury and collaborates across the enterprise with a team of rehabilitation specialists to synchronize their health care. Her research is in the leadership of registered nurse and social work case managers..
Lucille B. Beck, PhD, is an audiologist and former Chief Officer for Rehabilitation Services. She is currently a senior advisor to the Under Secretary for Health responsible and servicing in several Veterans Affairs Central Office leadership roles. She has extensive experience as a leader representing Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services with oversight of eight national programs and two comprehensive systems of care requiring case management and care coordination. Dr. Beck received the rank of Meritorious Executive in the Senior Executive Service by President William Clinton. His written remarks recognized Dr. Beck “for sustained extraordinary accomplishment in management of programs of the U.S. government and for leadership exemplifying the highest standards of service to the public, reflecting credit on her career in civil service.” Dr. Beck has jointly held faculty appointments at Gallaudet University, George Washington University, and the University of Maryland. She has authored numerous publications, scientific papers, and is a well-known presenter on topics ranging from amplification, outcomes, patient satisfaction, and other issues in Audiology and Rehabilitation for Veterans.
Neil E. Grunberg, PhD, is Professor of Military & Emergency Medicine (MEM), Medical & Clinical Psychology (MPS), and Neuroscience (NES) in the Uniformed Services University (USU) School of Medicine (SOM); Professor in the Graduate School of Nursing (GSN); Director of Research and Development in the Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program; Director of Faculty Development for MEM. He is a medical and social psychologist who has been on faculty at USU since 1979. His role in LEAD is to ensure that the LEAD program and sessions are based upon sound evidence and scholarship and to oversee research relevant to leadership education and training.
Address correspondence to Lisa Y. Perla, PhD, MSN, CFNP, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Veterans Health Administration, 50 Irving St Northwest, Washington, DC 20310 ([email protected]).
The work reported in this article is part of the doctoral dissertation of the first author.
No sources of funding were disclosed by any authors. The opinions and assertions contained herein are of the authors and are not to be construed as reflecting the views of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, the Department of Defense, or Veterans Affairs/Veterans Health Administration.
The authors report no conflicts of interest.
