As Commissioner of the Conn. Department of Veteran Affairs, Linda Spoonster Schwartz led Stand Down, an annual event for needy vets.
(photo: Lorraine Schwartz) |
Sigma Theta Tau International, the Honor Society of Nursing, has bestowed the Archon Award to Yale University School of Nursing (YSN) alumna Linda Spoonster Schwartz, RN, MSN '84, DrPH '98, FAAN.
Dr. Schwartz was awarded for her devotion to nursing practice and to healing the wounds of war. A Retired Major, she served in the US Air Force from 1967-1986. Schwartz was appointed Commissioner and Commandant of the Connecticut Department of Veteran Affairs in 2003, becoming the first woman to head this program in 145 years.
Dr. Schwartz's research has focused on the effects of Agent Orange on the health of women veterans. She served on the US-Vietnam Scientific Committee sponsored by NIEHS, which initiated the 2001 International Hanoi Conference on the Effects of Agent Orange. She has testified before Congress more than 25 times on issues regarding the health and welfare of America's veterans.
Schwartz previously served as a research scientist at YSN. In September of 2009, YSN faculty and students volunteered for Stand Down, an event overseen by Commissioner Schwartz to help needy veterans from all over the state of Connecticut. |
