Volunteers of America Names Dr. Jonathan Sherin to Lead Rapidly-Growing Services for Veterans
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact
David Burch, Volunteers of America
Office: (703) 341-5054
dburch@voa.org
ALEXANDRIA, Va., January 11, 2012 — Volunteers of America, one of the nation’s oldest and largest human service charities, announced today that Jonathan Sherin, M.D., Ph.D., has joined the organization in the newly created role of Executive Vice President for Veteran’s Affairs and Chief Medical Officer.
Prior to joining Volunteers of America, Sherin served as chief of mental health for the Miami Veterans’ Administration Healthcare System and professor and vice chairman for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Miami. A leading expert on the treatment of veterans suffering from mental health problems, Sherin had a distinguished career at the VA, where he served for more than decade as a clinician, teacher, researcher and administrative leader. During this time, Sherin gained extensive experience overseeing mental health programs across the entire clinical continuum, including some of the largest inpatient, outpatient and residential programs at the VA. Sherin also proactively forged partnerships between VA and community organizations and helped develop progressive programs for veterans, including two residential centers that focus on reintegration at Volunteers of America’s Los Angeles affiliate.
Volunteers of America National President Mike King said, “Volunteers of America is uniquely positioned to assist veterans though our housing assistance, employment and supportive services. Jon is an innovative leader with an entrepreneurial spirit that will help us continue to grow and strengthen our veterans programs on a national level. I believe he will be able to help take Volunteers of America’s veterans programs to the next stage of our great history, fulfilling our mission to help veterans in need rebuild their lives and reach their full potential.”
Sherin is an accomplished neurobiology researcher with notable achievements that include his work identifying a core sleep circuit in mammals which garnered national and international recognition. In addition, Sherin was a recipient of the prestigious Kempf Award from the American Psychiatric Association for his conceptual model of the psychotic process. More recently, Sherin’s academic interests have focused on the neurobiology of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and the aging process. Sherin completed his undergraduate studies at Brown University, his graduate work at the University of Chicago and Harvard Medical School, and his post-graduate training at UCLA and the Greater Los Angeles VA.
In his new role, Sherin will guide the organization’s continued expansion of services that target a number of the challenges facing veterans, including post-traumatic stress, depression, mild traumatic brain injury, substance abuse/dependence, homelessness, suicide, workforce development, education, technical training, justice involvement and a variety of unmet family/caregiver needs.
Volunteers of America is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations addressing veterans’ needs. Nationally, it serves thousands of homeless veterans each year through 35 programs in 15 states.
About Volunteers of America
Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need live healthy, safe and productive lives. Since 1896, our ministry of service has supported and empowered America's most vulnerable groups, including veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, those recovering from addictions and many others. Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing and health care, Volunteers of America helps more than 2 million people in over 400 communities. We offer a variety of services for older Americans, in particular, that allow them to maintain their independence and quality of life – everything from an occasional helping hand to full-time care. Our work touches the mind, body, heart and ultimately the spirit of those we serve, integrating our deep compassion with highly effective programs and services. For more information about Volunteers of America, visit www.VolunteersofAmerica.org.
