I am writing in my capacity as both a primary care physician and deputy medical director to offer my strong support and heartfelt gratitude for the outstanding work of Dawn Michelle Pavon, RN. She has demonstrated exemplary performance in managing the nursing needs for one of the busiest primary care teams in our rapidly growing outpatient clinic. She is truly deserving of special recognition. In a demanding environment where the complexities of care and the number of patients can be overwhelming, she has consistently risen to the occasion with professionalism, skill, and dedication. Her ability to effectively manage our large panel has contributed to most of our PACT Team’s primary care outcomes, measuring above national and facility averages. Michelle’s ability to manage patient needs, prioritize tasks, and collaborate across different services to deliver high-quality care to our veterans is a testament to her exceptional clinical and organizational skills. She coordinates patient care issues daily and connects veterans with the appropriate care team member, helping to minimize veterans’ systemic frustrations, increase patient satisfaction, and ensure good care.

Michelle demonstrates initiative in improving workflows and patient care processes, often identifying areas for improvement and implementing solutions that enhance efficiency. She consistently reviews our schedule to ensure that patient access remains optimal. This directly addresses the leading concern among Ventura County veterans regarding their primary care. She has applied her strengths to other PACT teams. During a recent PACT PCP transition for another team, she stepped up to provide coverage during the PACT RN’s absence by performing usual RN tasks for two teams and applying her scrubbing approach to optimize patient access despite the modified schedule. Furthermore, she has shared her best practices with primary care leadership. As both a physician working closely with her and as Deputy Medical Director helping to oversee Ventura clinic operations, I have seen firsthand the positive impact she has had on our mission to serve veterans.