“National Nurses Day is a moment to pause and reflect on the resilience, compassion, and dedication that defines our profession.” – Reba Dowdy, RN; Director, Utilization Management, TriWest Employee since 2014
As health care organizations across the nation observe National Nurses Week (May 6-12), TriWest Healthcare Alliance (TriWest) is also honored to celebrate our valued nurse professionals who proudly serve our Veteran and military-connected beneficiaries.
Each year, health care organizations observe the week to honor these professionals who often serve on the frontlines of care.
Being a professional nurse takes more than intensive study, training and evaluation to attain a well-earned Nursing license. It is a unique calling and commitment to personally connect with others in need, and then serve, help, and heal them with their best health at heart.
Since 2023, TriWest has grown its nurse employee roster to more than 100 nurse professionals. We deeply appreciate each nurse employee’s valued contributions to our organization.
For National Nurses Week 2025, we interviewed several TriWest nurse employees to share their insights and experiences to help celebrate this year’s deserved observance.
Reba Dowdy, RN; Director, Utilization Management, TriWest Employee since 2014
Reba Dowdy works as TriWest Director, Utilization Management, who has been a nurse employee since 2023. Reba also worked as a nurse for TriWest from 2014-2020, later returning for TRICARE health care delivery.
“As a former employee, returning to TriWest felt like coming home to a mission that truly matters,” Reba shares. “Since returning, my proudest contribution has been helping streamline care coordination for our TRICARE beneficiaries—ensuring they get timely access to the care they need, without unnecessary delays,” she emphasizes.
“What initially drew me to TriWest—and inspired my return—was the company’s unwavering commitment to serving our nation’s Veterans and military families. Our mission isn’t just written on a wall; it’s lived out every day in the work we do,” Reba says. “Being part of an organization that values both compassion and excellence makes it a joy to give my best, because I know it’s going toward something meaningful.”
“I was drawn to nursing because I’ve always felt a deep calling to help people in their most vulnerable moments,” Reba explains. “From personal experience, I quickly saw how a nurse’s compassion, empathy, and presence could transform someone’s experience of illness—and I knew I wanted to be that kind of light for others,” she adds. “The science of nursing fascinated me, but it was the human connection that truly called me to the profession.”
“To me, National Nurses Day is a moment to pause and reflect on the resilience, compassion, and dedication that defines our profession,” Reba says. “This year, with TRICARE, it’s about honoring not only what we’ve been through, but how far we’ve come—especially in a rapidly evolving health care landscape,” she adds.
“I also feel National Nurses Day is a time to lift up the voices of nurses everywhere, to advocate for one another, and to remember why we chose this path in the first place: to care, lead, and make a difference.”
Taneshia Sherrill, BSN, RN; RN Care Coordinator, TriWest Employee since 2019
Taneshia currently works as a TriWest Care Coordinator, joining TriWest in 2019. She is also a U.S. Navy Veteran who proudly served as a Hospital Corpsman from 2001-2007.
“As a TriWest nurse employee and Veteran, my proudest TriWest care contribution has been being able to provide support and assistance to my fellow Veterans,” Taneshia shares. “Like me, our Veteran beneficiaries served our country, so I feel the least I can do in my work as TriWest nurse professional is to make sure their health care in their community through our Community Care Network is handled smoothly,” she emphasizes.
“I chose to join TriWest because I love the fact at TriWest we serve our nation’s Veterans,” Taneshia says. “Contributing and being part of a company that understands the values of the sacrifices our Veterans have made, and honoring their service by providing support to them means a lot to me.”
“I’ve always been the type who had a nurturing soul,” Taneshia shares. ‘I’ve been like this since I was a young child. Growing up in the country, we took care of our elders and our family, so I’ve been in this work since I was very young. I love helping others and I love giving support,” she adds.
“As we recognize National Nurses Day, I’m reminded that I have been in health care since I served as Active-Duty military. In my career, I have performed bedside nursing, home health nursing, dialysis nursing, and much more in our profession. I love being in nursing and knowing that another year has passed with me being able to celebrate our profession brings me much honor as a nurse.”
Shirley Stevens, RN, Case Manager, TriWest Employee Since 2016
Shirley Stevens is one of TriWest’s longer-serving nurse employees, currently working as Certified Case Manager. Shirley is also a U.S. Army and Army Reserve Veteran who proudly served as a Licensed Practical Nurse during her service (1986-1994).
“At TriWest, I was originally hired as a temp agency nurse in June 2016 and then became permanent staff in November 2016,” Shirley says.
“As a Veteran and a TriWest nurse employee, my greatest pride is when I work with an unhappy Veteran who sees that I do what I tell them I will do, and then they feel like they really do matter,” Shirley shares. “On phone calls, I can hear and feel their personality become warmer toward me because they have some new hope again. Many Veterans out there have no family or anyone that calls to check on them.”
“I also know I have done my job well when Veterans I have called and provided my phone number, they share it with their Veteran buddies or friends who also need help. I take the same pride when our Community Care providers pass my phone number within their offices to reach me directly for help,” Shirley emphasizes.
“My experiences of being both a civilian nurse and a nurse in the military are some of the highest acts of service that I can offer to my community and my country,” Shirley says.
“Through my service, I worked in an Army hospital Intensive Care Unit, a forward support medical battalion detachment, and served in a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) in Honduras while I was in the Army Reserves,” Shirley shares.
“Over my 47-year nursing career, I have had the honor and privilege of supporting many others during their happiest and saddest moments, including births, good health, serious illness, and even death, too,” she adds.
“From my career perspective on National Nurses Day, I’ve seen too many reports about violence against nurses. Nurses truly need to feel valued, safe, and supported,” Shirley emphasizes. “What a great accomplishment it could be in our profession if all nurses had the same support that TriWest employees enjoy,” she adds.
“Through my 8 and a half year TriWest experience, I have taken great pride from our ‘Whatever it Takes!®’ motto and becoming an employee to learn that those words hold true.”
Dean Weaver, RN, MSN, MSA; Director, Clinical Quality Data; TriWest Employee Since 2020
Dean Weaver currently works as TriWest Director, Utilization Management, and is also a five-year U.S. Navy Veteran who proudly served in the Submarine Force (1988-1993). After serving he started business school but soon redirected to the nursing profession, later becoming employed at the Department of Veterans Affairs before joining TriWest.
“I initially chose to join TriWest as a nurse professional because of its mission to serve Veterans like me and my family,” Dean shares. “TriWest has a great reputation and commitment to serve our Veteran and military communities by fulfilling their mission ‘to provide access to convenient and affordable health care they have earned.’”
“As a clinical leader and Veteran, among my proudest contributions at TriWest has been serving Veterans by working for our Community Care Network – Clinical Quality Management department under TriWest’s Medical Management Operations team. As I have continued my proud tenure, I am particularly drawn to TriWest to assist with upholding and supporting our clinical quality team,” he emphasizes.
“Our work has given me pride over the past several years as we have consistently met VA requirements for timely processing of potential quality issues in our Community Care Network,” Dean says. “As our company motto states, our team really does ‘Whatever it Takes!©’ to ensure medical care referrals received from Veterans, VA Medical Centers, and their staff are addressed and reviewed promptly,” he adds.
“From my career perspective, celebrating National Nurses Day means recognizing the many professionals who are clinically trained and give so much to their patients,” Dean emphasizes. “Nurses are often the frontline of health care delivery, ensuring and performing needed clinical actions for patients, Veterans and medical partners, too.”
“I pursued the nursing profession for the satisfaction it provides and the ability to meet people and change lives by what you do,” he shares. “Professional nurses gain a deep sense of purpose in our work.”
“Because the nursing profession is constantly evolving, I’ve discovered its changing nature has allowed me to continuously learn and adapt. Nursing has allowed me to work in diverse environments and foster some of my personal qualities such as offering empathy, kindness, and patience,” he adds.
“For nurse professionals, ‘The Golden Rule’ always comes to mind, ‘Do unto others…’” Dean says, “The nursing profession compels us to treat others as we would want to be treated.”
All of us at TriWest express a special message of deep appreciation to all of our nurses who give their all in their roles at our organization. We celebrate their deep dedication to do Whatever it Takes!® for our valued beneficiaries, and each nurse employee’s many contributions as we honor our proud Mission to Serve®.