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BayCare Health System and two of its registered nurses will be featured in an upcoming segment of “Military Makeover: Operation Career,” a nationally syndicated program airing on Lifetime TV that highlights organizations supporting veterans and military families.
Christina Martinez, RN, advanced nursing professional development practitioner and U.S. Navy reservist, and David Hill, RN, nursing manager, will appear in a segment filmed at BayCare’s St. Anthony’s Hospital. The episode showcases their professional journeys and BayCare’s commitment to creating meaningful career pathways for veterans and active military personnel.
In the episode, Martinez shares how her Navy experience guides her work, while Hill, a U.S. Navy veteran with 36 years at BayCare, reflects on the culture that has kept him engaged throughout his career.
“The military helped me find courage and discover who I am,” Martinez said. “I’ve been to places I never dreamt of, serving both the community and our service members. Now, as a clinical educator, I help my peers grow so they can deliver excellent care at the bedside. Ongoing education is a pillar of safety—it’s essential to the outcomes we achieve at BayCare.”
The segment will debut Oct. 10 on Lifetime at 7:30 a.m. ET/PT, with a second airing Nov. 20. The program is also broadcast on the American Forces Network.
BayCare, the largest academic health system serving West Central Florida, provides one in every three health care services in the region. Guided by its mission to improve the health of all it serves through community-owned services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care, BayCare prioritizes the well-being of patients, communities and team members.
With nearly 1,000 veterans and active military team members, BayCare fosters a culture of gratitude and respect through recognition events, awareness campaigns and community partnerships. The organization also sponsors an annual Support Our Troops military drive, a two-weeklong, system-wide collection to show its appreciation for the sacrifices made by members of the armed services.
“I served in the United States Navy for 10 years as a hospital nurse, including during Operation Desert Storm,” Hill said. “I’ve done suturing, prescribed medication, assisted in surgeries, run my own lab tests and taken my own X-rays. That experience shaped my approach to care and leadership.”
“Veterans bring incredible strengths,” said BayCare President and CEO Stephanie Conners. “They are accountable, they are resilient, they have immense courage. And ultimately what they bring is an incredible work ethic. They bring the best of who they are, and that’s important when you’re saving lives every single day.”
"Military Makeover,” a 2024 CBS Family Film and TV Award winner, is hosted by Montel Williams, a veteran of the Marine Corps and U. S. Navy. The show shares the stories of military servicemen and women reentering civilian life and offers hope and support to them and their families. Its Operation Career segment highlights organizations that help veterans apply their military skills in the workforce.
Learn more: Careers at BayCare
