Previous Recipients 

Linda S. Godleski, M.D., Associate Chief of Staff for Education, VA Connecticut Healthcare System (VACHS), West Haven, CT, has been selected by the Under Secretary for Health to receive VA’s highest recognition of academic accomplishments, the 2010 David M. Worthen Award for Career Achievement in Educational Excellence.

As Associate Chief of Staff for Education at VACHS, Dr. Godleski has led the facility’s educational programs in an exemplary fashion since 2004. Dr. Godleski has been a leader in development of the curricula for VHA’s national telemental health clinical program, the largest telemental health clinical program in the world. Between 2002-10 she served as the National Lead for VHA Telemental Health Clinical Services, and, in 2010, was named as the Director of the newly-established VHA National Telemental Health Center. The comprehensive educational program she has developed is applicable to all mental health trainees, and uses a combination of modules, such as web-based training, live satellite productions and live meeting evidence-based journal clubs, all of which are available nationally. She has served as a consultant to other Federal and academic agencies and to the American Telemedicine Association regarding development of curricula for optimization of telemedicine. Her work has been presented extensively at VA and academic conferences and published in numerous peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Godleski is dedicated to enhancing the clinical care provided to Veterans and is committed to enhancing the training of the health professions workforce for both the VHA and the nation. The award was presented to Dr. Godleski at the National Leadership Board meeting on October 18, 2011.

Dr. Godleski was interviewed on Stone Phillips Reports about the David M. Worthen Award as well as about VA's Tele-Mental Health. To view those videos you will be leaving the VA website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked Web site.