HCA Healthcare commits $150,000 in support of veterans and their families in honor of Veterans Day

Today, we are proud to announce that HCA Healthcare will give $150,000 to multiple veteran support organizations in honor of Veterans Day. Since 2012, HCA Healthcare has hired more than 65,000 veterans, active-duty and reserve personnel and military spouses.

This year, HCA Healthcare is giving:

• $50,000 to Operation Stand Down, an organization that engages veterans early in their transition from military service to find meaningful employment, to help expand their career services programs for transitioning service members, their families and veterans;
• $50,000 to CreatiVets, an organization dedicated to empowering veterans and their families to find healing from service-related trauma through art, to help increase the number of veteran and family participants in their national wellness through fine arts program; and
• $50,000 to The Honor Foundation, a career transition program for U.S. Special Operations Forces, to help enhance their industry “trek” experiences to various companies for program fellows in eight states and four virtual cohorts.

Additionally, VIQTORY has recognized HCA Healthcare as a Military Friendly employer for the 15^th consecutive year, earning the Gold designation for the third year in a row. This year, we also earned Gold designation as a Military Spouse Friendly employer and was recognized as one of the top 10 military spouse employers in the nation by the organization.

HCA Healthcare has a longstanding commitment to U.S. veteran and military communities. Our organization maintains a Military Colleague Network, with chapters across the country, which helps promote community and purpose and has also been successful in helping veterans navigate the civilian workforce.

For those who wish to continue serving, HCA Healthcare also offers military leave and supplemental pay to eligible colleagues to serve as active-duty military while working at HCA Healthcare. Our organization also provides pathways for non-traditional military talent to find meaningful employment opportunities in healthcare through partnerships with 50-Strong, Hiring Our Heroes and local veteran service organizations across the country.

For more than a decade, HCA Healthcare has supported veterans and their families.

• In 2011, HCA Healthcare joined the Veteran Jobs Mission, a coalition of more than 300+ organizations which collectively committed to hiring 1,000,000 veterans. In September 2025, the coalition fulfilled this mission.
• In 2012, HCA Healthcare joined the second cohort of the Department of Defense’s Military Spouse Employment Partnership in order to formalize its commitment to hiring military spouses.
• In 2013, HCA Healthcare joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes national advisory councils on veteran and military spouse employment, and, in 2015, HCA Healthcare received the Lee Anderson Award for overall excellence in hiring and retaining veterans, and transitioning service members and military spouses.
• In 2018, HCA Healthcare was an inaugural employer partner of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “Hiring 100,000 Military Spouses” campaign and has since hired more than 8,500 military spouses.
• In 2019, HCA Healthcare and the U.S. Army Medical Recruitment Brigade created the Patriot Partnership Program, providing specialized education and training for physician residency and fellowship programs nationwide.
• In 2021, HCA Healthcare received the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest recognition given by Employer Support of the National Guard and Reserves (ESGR).
• Since 2024, HCA Healthcare has been designated as a Tennessee Veteran Ready Business – a state-level certification for Tennessee businesses that actively recruit, hire and retain veterans, and demonstrate a commitment to supporting the veteran workforce.
• In 2025, HCA Healthcare became an authorized Department of Defense SkillBridge provider, welcoming clinical and non-clinical participants across our enterprise. The SkillBridge program allows active-duty military members to gain valuable civilian work experience prior to their transition from military service.

U.S. Army veteran drives cardiac care innovation in Virginia

Dr. William A. Cooper’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to service, discipline and leadership. A decorated U.S. Army veteran, retired colonel and cardiothoracic surgeon, he continues serving others today at HCA Healthcare’s Reston Hospital Center in Reston, Virginia.

With more than 35 years of military service, including four combat deployments, Dr. Cooper brings a deep sense of purpose and discipline to every role he takes on. Today, he is leading the creation of Reston Hospital Center’s new heart surgery program – the first new cardiac surgery program to launch in the region in nearly four decades – expanding access to life-saving care for thousands of patients.

This marks the second time in Dr. Cooper’s career that he has been entrusted to build a cardiovascular surgery program from the ground up. “I’m honored to join the exceptional team at Reston Hospital Center to help shape a cardiovascular program that prioritizes high-quality outcomes, patient access, physician collaboration and community impact,” said Dr. Cooper, the medical director of cardiovascular surgery for the new program at Reston Hospital Center. “This is more than a clinical program — it’s a service mission.”

Dr. Cooper’s military experience, combined with his clinical leadership, has forged a reputation for discipline, integrity and excellence in cardiovascular surgery. Today, he says he is grateful for his military background. “I am grateful for a variety of reasons, but one of the key values it instilled that has carried over to my career in healthcare is the importance of preparation,” Dr. Cooper said. “In the Army, we didn’t leave things to chance or rely on talent. That mindset has served me well in my professional life and has benefited my patients.

How U.S. Navy Reserves experiences shapes exceptional behavioral healthcare 

HCA Healthcare colleague Maria Ellis, DNP, MSN, MBA, RN, PMH-BC, serves as the director of behavioral health at HCA Florida West Hospital in Pensacola, Florida. There, she leads with a deep commitment to supporting veterans and service members. As both a healthcare leader and a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves, Maria brings a unique perspective that has been shaped by her own military service.

“My personal journey as a veteran deepens my connection to their struggles and triumphs, fostering a deep appreciation for these experiences and reminds me every day of the importance of compassion and kindness,” Maria shared.  

At HCA Florida West Hospital, Maria ensures that each veteran feels seen, heard and valued. “Sometimes, the simplest gestures of empathy can bring immense comfort and support, showing that they are not alone in their battles,” she explained.

Living in a military town, Maria and her team understand the critical role of supporting our country’s service members and veterans. This dedication is reflected in the hospital’s efforts to become a designated ‘Veteran Safe Place’ by The Fire Watch Foundation, a program designed specifically for organizations to educate, train and empower others to be able to identify and support a veteran in crisis.

“The majority of my team took the initiative to complete training aimed at preventing veteran suicide, reinforcing their commitment to this cause,” Maria said. “One story that stays with me involves a service member who came to us struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). With our help, he found renewed hope and stability, learning essential coping skills that continue to serve him today. While PTSD is a lifelong journey, witnessing his progress and gratitude reminded me why this work matters so deeply.”

During Maria’s time in a Navy medical unit, she witnessed firsthand the challenges in mental health services for service members and veterans. “The stigma remains strong which is why raising awareness and normalizing these conversations is so important,” she said. “Veterans deserve to feel safe and confident in the care they receive, which motivates me to improve mental health care.”

Texas veteran colleagues share meaningful experience at National Medal of Honor Museum 

In honor of Veterans Day, Marcus Jackson, chief operating officer of HCA Healthcare’s Medical City Las Colinas and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, led fellow veteran colleagues on a meaningful visit to the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas. Opened earlier this year, the museum brings to life stories of sacrifice, patriotism and courage – highlighting U.S. military service members and Medal of Honor recipients.

“It was an honor and my pleasure to host our Medical City Las Colinas veteran colleagues at this amazing museum,” said Marcus. “The examples of sacrifice, courage and devotion were breathtaking and inspiring. As healthcare professionals and veterans, we walked away with a reinvigorated spirit to continue our dedication to protecting, healing and bringing hope to our patients.”

For Marcus, the visit was personal. After high school he joined the Marine Corps Reserve, proudly serving from 1987 to 1995. “I knew that I wanted to serve my country but also have a career in healthcare,” he explained. “I decided to join the Marines and go into the Reserves while pursuing my degree in respiratory therapy.”

For our colleagues who have worn a military uniform and now wear scrubs, the museum visit was a powerful reminder that their commitment to others never fades. “Visiting the museum was deeply moving,” said Jeff Conn, a nurse at Medical City Las Colinas. “As both a nurse and a veteran, I felt a profound connection to the stories of courage and sacrifice. It reminded me why we serve, whether on the battlefield or at the bedside.”