By Dr. Valerie Kading, previous CEO of Sierra Tucson and current Vice President of Clinical & Medical Development at Acadia Healthcare
Meet Bill Reynolds. Bill is a 30-year Navy veteran who developed the Red, White and Blue program, which provides specialized care for our service members, veterans and first responders, at our flagship facility, Sierra Tucson. The program averages 25 participants at any given time and has been recognized nationally by the Veterans Administration (VA) and first responder groups.
Bill gives everything he has for the population he serves and has a deep commitment to them and understanding of their needs. He celebrates their wins and is incredibly passionate about providing this specialized group that is so dedicated to service with the highest level of care possible. He initiated a daily flag ceremony for our Red, White and Blue program participants, inviting them to stand together around the flag and share what they’re grateful for. He participates even on his days off, showing his personal dedication.
I’ll never forget one patient interaction Bill had: Our facility welcomed a Vietnam War veteran who had very complex needs. His family had thrown up their hands in defeat; they didn’t know how to help him. This veteran had pseudo-seizures frequently and without warning, and — truth be told — we were even a little nervous to treat him. Bill was determined to help him, and we supported him and trusted his ability to assist this veteran — while also acknowledging the challenge and encouraging him to do whatever he could.
This particular patient would get better, then revert back. He had seizures every day, sometimes large events that disrupted the entire milieu. Bill never gave up. The patient stayed at Sierra Tucson for three months, and Bill continued asking the VA for more time and keeping them informed of what became slow but gradual progress.
Eventually, the patient was discharged, and he now speaks as an alumnus for our Red, White and Blue program participants. His life had been transformed, and he was committed to making a positive impact on others. Bill had a deep understanding of what the patient needed, believed in him and never gave up.
Bill advocates for trauma-informed care, not only because of what these first responders, active-duty service members and veterans have experienced but also because of the effects of trauma they may have brought into their military experience. Bill ensures that our program participants have every form of treatment available to them, including stellate ganglion block injections, a newer intervention that has helped our veterans who have severe PTSD. He also pushed for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) machine treatment to be offered; this treatment is often helpful to those who have not been able to be helped by therapy and/or medical treatment. When these patients are discharged and need more TMS treatment, he advocates for them to be able to continue treatment.
Bill is committed to educating the public and other professionals on the importance of mental healthcare for our service members, veterans and first responders. He has shared his expertise on the topic at speaking events and on Arizona public radio and television. He seeks to reduce the stigma around mental healthcare that can make it a challenge for our service members, veterans and first responders to seek help.