VA Care for Veterans Webinar

Bob Asztalos is a Navy veteran and the Deputy Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. He previously served as: Chief Operating Officer for Medical Equipment and Supplies of America, a disabled veteran owned company that contracts with the Veterans Administration; Chief Lobbyist for the Florida Health Care Association; Senior Congressional Affairs Representative for the American Health Care Association; and Associate Director of Government Affairs with the American Physical Therapy Association. 

Marlies Sarrett is the Administrator of the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Land O’ Lakes. She has over 30 years of experience in long term care including Director of Nursing, multi-facility Clinical Nurse, Risk Management, and Nursing Home Administrator. She currently is with the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs for 11 years. Marlies is a native of Florida and was raised in the Land O’ Lakes area. She studied at Hillsborough Community College, where she became a Registered Nurse and later graduated from St. Leo University with a bachelor’s in Health Care Administration. Currently, she is seeking a Master’s in Gerontology at the University of South Florida. She holds current Florida Licenses as a Registered Nurse and Nursing Home Administrator.

Roy Ward serves as Veterans’ Claims Examiner II for the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Ward retired from the United States Army after more than 33 years of service. He served in more than 20 countries including combat tours in Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. His awards include the Distinguish Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Bronze Star. Ward is a graduate from the Glen R. Jones College of Business with a M.B.A.

Ms. Barton has worked at the Orlando VA for 12 years and has been in the Coordinator position for the Community Nursing Home Program since 2014.  She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Qualified Supervisor for Registered Interns in the state of Florida.  Ms. Barton has served in numerous committees and workgroups on the facility, regional and national level and was named Supervisor of the Quarter in Summer 2022 for the Orlando VA and the VISN.  Ms. Barton earned her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Central Florida and earned her Bachelors of Science degree from Troy University where she was a member of the volleyball team.

Wendy Lovejoy has worked for the North Florida/South Georgia VHA since April 2014 and has been in the Coordinator position for the Community Nursing Home Program since August 2015.  She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and earned her Master of Social Work degree from Florida State University. Prior to working with the VA, Wendy was a Social Worker at a nursing home in Jacksonville for 12 years.