On this Veterans Day, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System is celebrating our many military veterans who have used their unique experiences to influence their roles as skilled associates, providers and leaders across our facilities.

Spartanburg Regional hosted a Veterans Day Luncheon to honor the more than 350 military veterans who work within our system.

From physicians and nurses to technicians and environmental services staff, we are deeply grateful for the sacrifices that all our veterans have made for the sake of our nation. 

Here are the perspectives of a few military veterans in our system who pinpoint how their time in the armed forces influences their work in health care today. 

Garry D. Moore, B.S. RT (R) (CT) 

Computed Tomography Manager 

Imaging Services 

Garry Moore served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years until he retired as a chief petty officer. 

Moore struggled to find stable employment after high school, so he enlisted with his older brother. 

“I spent most all my 20 years in health care working in many distinct locations that allowed me to overcome most obstacles in work environments,” Moore said. “It taught me to make the best of any situation that I encountered.” 

“I learned how to lead many different sailors in different jobs other than my career field of radiology. I finally got the opportunity to teach in the Navy’s Radiography Program,” Moore said. “After a couple of years in school, I was promoted to director of radiology and the radiology program director. This position allowed me to help lead U.S. Navy radiology during my last five years.” 

Mark Reynolds, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC 

Family Nurse Practitioner 

Cherokee Medical Center – Immediate Care Center – Gaffney 

Mark Reynolds grew up believing that serving was a duty and responsibility. He served in the Marine Corps Reserves from 1986 to 1992 and was placed on active duty for the first Gulf War.

“The training I received goes far beyond the demanding physical aspect. It is also mental training. It is team building. It is learning to rely on your peers and being reliable for them. It is owning your mistakes and being accountable. It is constantly evaluating the mission goal and course correcting, if necessary,” Reynolds said.

All those aspects, he said, are what prepared him to be successful when seeking opportunities in non-military settings.

“If there is anything I would want people to understand about serving in the military is that those who served took time away from their family, friends or interests so that you can enjoy the many freedoms we enjoy,” he said. “There is an associated cost to our freedoms. It was paid for by your veterans.” 

Dr. Allen Wylie 

Inpatient Medicine Physician 

Medical Group of the Carolinas – Inpatient Medicine – Spartanburg Medical Center

 Dr. Allen Wylie had several family members who served in the military and decided early on that he wanted to carry on that tradition by serving his country. He enlisted in the Army in 2001 and was honorably discharged in 2005. He deployed in Afghanistan in 2002 and to Iraq in 2003. 

“Those experiences taught me a great deal about how to handle high stress environments where people's lives are on the line. In my current role with Spartanburg Regional as a hospitalist, I sometimes am challenged with critical situations that allow me to apply those skills that I learned on my deployments.” 

Dr. Wylie said through his time at Spartanburg Regional, he has consistently fallen back on his military training and experience whether in how he communicates with staff regarding a patient care plan, discussing staffing with leadership, or engaging in multidisciplinary team rounds. 

“I learned a lot about leadership, time management, communication and teamwork in the Army,” he said. “I use these skills daily in my current roles as a hospitalist and as an assistant medical director for inpatient medicine.” 

Enlisting in the Army changed Dr. Wylie’s life for the better, he said. 

“I think enlisting was one of the best decisions I have ever made.”