Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Staff Bios

Michelle Stefanelli DCSW/C-ASWCM/LCSW, OEF/OIF Program Manager/POC

Michelle Stefanelli began her VA career in November 2002, when she was appointed to serve as the Patient Care Social Work Coordinator for the VA.  As the Social Work Coordinator for the VA New Jersey Health Care System,  (VANJHCS) Ms. Stefanelli oversaw the clinical management of two campuses and acted as the Social Work Executive for one year.  Prior to joining VA, Ms. Stefanelli served as President/CEO of a statewide health care program.  Ms. Stefanelli also established the first inpatient hospice for the VANJHCS.

Through her efforts, the VANJHCS was acknowledged as a "Best Practice" by the VHA Virtual Learning Center for the Iraqi Freedom Program.    The development of community resources and education is part of this   program, which was the inception of the Statewide OEF/OIF Task Force Committee for the VANJHCS.  Ms. Stefanelli holds a seat on the Governors Yellow Ribbon Committee which is in partnership with DAMAV.  The development of the OEF/OIF Case Management Program for the Transition Units is a "One Stop Shopping Concept", is being considered for Nationwide Recognition.  She is an adjunct Professor at the College of Saint Elizabeth, Morristown, New Jersey.  Ms. Stefanelli enjoys helping others through various community committees. 

Louise Hall Wojnar, TBI Social Work Case Manager

Louise Wojnar has been employed at the VA since 1976.  She graduated from Rutgers College as the first class of women in a once all male school.  She returned to Rutgers graduate school of social work and received her MSW. Louise's specialized areas include traumatic brain injury, advanced directives, medical ethics and end of life care. She came on board the OEF/OIF program in March of 2007 and is thrilled to be working with the OEF/OIF veterans and team.

Alba Lopez, TBI Social Work Case Manager
 
Alba is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who graduated from the Rutgers Graduate School of Social Work. She is a proud Army veteran and served as a Field Artillery Officer. She has worked extensively in the field of Mental Health both as a case manager in the community and on an In-Patient Unit in the Trenton area. She has extensive experience with geriatrics, having served a social services coordinator for a 90 unit subsidized senior citizen building in New York City. Later she served as the social services director for a long term care facility in Clark, NJ. Alba first served as the Emergency Room Social Worker at the East Orange VA Campus and later went on to become the Spinal Cord Injury Coordinator. She has recently joined the OEF/OIF Team as a Traumatic Brain Injury Case Manager. 

Fran Michaels, TBI Social Work Case Manager

Fran Michaels has been employed with the VA for 15 years. She has been a volunteer with Office of Emergency Management and served with the Fort Lee Crisis Team at the G W Bridge during 9/11. Fran is a graduate of NYU with a Bachelor's degree in English Education, Master's degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, a graduate of the Columbia School of Social Work, and a PhD from Union Institute & University in Social Work and Gerontology. Fran is honored to be a permanent member of the OEF/OIF team.

Robin Baptiste, Transitional Patient Advocate 

Robin Baptiste has been employed with the VA since 1996, after spending 10 years in the Air Force as a Communications Specialist. Robin is a Persian Gulf veteran, serving 2 tours in the Middle East.  She is a graduate of Rutgers University, with a Bachelor's of English and plans to pursue a Master's Degree in Public Administration.  Robin has worked for several different departments since joining the VA, and plans to bring her knowledge and experience of being a veteran and the transitioning process to the OEF/OIF team, having experienced it herself.

June Mayer, Nurse Case Manager

June R. Mayer RN, APN C is our nurse case manager for the OEF/OIF program within the VA-New Jersey Health Care System.  Ms. Mayer brings to our program a strong background in screening, assessment and management of Adult Health.   She has experience from working in a private internal medicine practice for over fourteen years.  Her responsibilities included collaborative duties as a primary care nurse practitioner and medical office administrator.  Prior to that, she was a Director of Nursing for a nationwide home infusion company, coordinating both nursing and pharmacy departments. She enjoys mentoring students, most recently working closely with the nurse practitioner students.  While at the VA she has been instrumental in expanding the Home Telemetry Monitoring program for the Extended Care Department.
 
Ms. Mayer is an active member of the New Jersey State Nurses Association, the American Nurses Association and the Hospice and Palliative Care National Association.

Carolyn Snyder, OEF/OIF Social Work Case Manager

Carolyn Snyder MSW/LSW received her undergraduate degrees in social work and psychology at Cedar Crest College. She worked and did her internship as a counselor in a runaway and homeless adolescent shelter and as a Therapeutic Support Counselor for autistic children. Carolyn went on to pursue her Masters in Social Work at Temple University where she specialized in clinical social work with a focus on health and mental health issues. Carolyn did her internship in 2006 and 2007 at the VA working with OEF/OIF and women veterans, became a licensed social worker, and is now pleased to be a permanent part of the OEF/OIF team.

Jennifer Alonso, OEF/OIF Floating Social Work Case Manager

Jennifer Alonso MSW/LSW was born in Brooklyn, NY and moved to Toms River NJ in the early 1990's. In high school she volunteered at the Brick Outpatient Clinic due to family members working at the VA. Jennifer's father is a combat veteran who served in Vietnam and is 100% service connected. The early experiences with the VA along with her father's experiences lead Jennifer to strive for a career in Social Work. She went to Rutgers University-New Brunswick in 1999 and graduated with her Bachelor's Degree in Social Work in 2004. Shortly after graduation she worked at Easter Seals of NJ treating mentally ill adults. In 2005 she worked at the Department of Veteran Affairs, Fort Monmouth and Lyons Campuses. Jennifer left at the end of 2005 to finish her Masters Degree in Social Work at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. While working on her Masters Degree, Jennifer worked at non-profit organizations like the Youth Advocate Program and Catholic Charities as a case manager. Jennifer finished her Masters Degree in January 2008 and passed her LSW exam in February 2008. Jennifer came to the Department of Veteran Affairs in April 2008 to work as a floating case manager for the OEF/OIF Program working with OEF/OIF veterans.