Continuing a legacy of service
Parkland honors employees who served on Veterans Day
Service, honor and sacrifice — these are the values that define military life, and they continue to shape the lives of Parkland Health employees who once wore the uniform. This Veterans Day, Parkland recognizes the men and women who have served our country and now serve the Dallas County community with that same commitment to duty and compassion.
For retired Army Maj. J.D. Buchert, M.Ed., MS, MSN(s), RN, CNOR, Workforce Safety Manager at Parkland, service runs deep. He comes from a long line of military leaders, including his grandfather, a commanding general, and his father, a lieutenant colonel.
“I grew up knowing I’d serve,” Buchert said. “The military was in my destiny, and I truly embraced it.”
Buchert’s service included 16 combat missions, during which he cared for fellow soldiers injured in battle, including those with severe burns. Remembering the Parkland burn formula led him years later to Parkland, home to one of the nation’s leading burn centers.
“When I came to Parkland, I realized the mission, vision and values here aligned with everything I wanted to work for,” he said. “In the military, we watched each other’s backs. Now, I’m watching out for the people who care for our community.”
Reflecting on what Veterans Day means to him, Buchert is grateful for the reminder to pause and thank all who have sacrificed for the greater good of their country.
“It’s a stop and think scenario — people can really understand that someone was willing to step up so others could voice their opinion. That’s a luxury many people in the world don’t have,” Buchert said. “If you can give up your time, if you can give up a little piece of your heart doing something you truly believe in for the betterment of our country and the people in it, you will get every ounce of respect that I have.”
For retired Army Col. Ray Price, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, Director of Nursing Administration and the Centralized Staffing Office, his 38-year military career taught lessons that still guide him daily.
“Discipline, accountability and teamwork — those values are the foundation of everything I do,” Price said.
Before joining Parkland, Price served as Senior Nurse Executive for the Defense Health Agency, overseeing 13 Army hospitals along the East Coast. His military journey began at age 17 and took him from patient administration to cardiac care, nursing and, eventually, senior leadership.
Now, Price finds meaning in continuing to serve others.
“In the military, we cared for America’s sons and daughters who served our country,” he said. “At Parkland, we care for the residents of Dallas County, the most vulnerable in our community. The missions are remarkably similar.”
As members of Parkland’s Military and Veterans at Parkland (MVP) Employee Resource Group (ERG), Buchert and Price find camaraderie with colleagues who share a similar sense of purpose.
“The ERG also allows me to connect with people of like minds who have also served and share my passion for service,” Price said.
This Veterans Day, Parkland Health honors those who have worn the uniform and those who continue to embody its values every day through service to others.
“Veterans Day is a day to pause and honor those who have served,” Price said.
The MVP ERG aims to recognize and promote the health and well-being of individuals within our community that have served in the Armed Forces and/or supported those that have served in the Armed Forces. ERG membership is voluntary and open to all active employees at Parkland in good standing.
To learn more about careers at Parkland, go to www.parklandcareers.com.
For more information on the services provided at Parkland, visit www.parklandhealth.org.
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