Cynthia Geppert, M.D., poses with the plaque she was presented last
month in Albuquerque by Nathan Geraths, interim director of the New
Mexico VA Health Care System (NMVAHCS) for winning the VA's Hearts and Hands
Award.
The award is given by Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson to
VA employees who “provide exceptional, compassionate, sustained care to
America's veterans.”
Geppert is a psychiatrist in the NMVAHCS Behavioral Health Care line
(BHCL). She is the leader of the BHCL Inpatient Consultation Service and cares
for veterans with mood and psychotic disorders. She is also chair of the BHCL
Ethics Committee and works in the Substance Use Disorders Program, where she
founded and now oversees the Buprenorphine Clinic. She teaches other
physicians and residents in providing integrated medical and psychiatric care
and is an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of New Mexico
School of Medicine.
“Dr. Geppert is always willing to help veterans and staff and keeps
an `open door' to her office,” said Geraths at the award ceremony.“
She exhibits compassion, integrity, a lively sense of humor, and a high
caliber of hands-on skills.”