Meet Our 2024 ESPRIT Award Winner: Arna Brammer

As a mother of three and grandmother of two, Arna Brammer has a long track record of exercising patience, empathy, understanding needs, and giving to others—qualities she exemplifies each day on the job as a CHHA Branch Director for Queens and Long Island.

One of Arna’s most vivid VNS Health memories was while working as a field clinician, when she walked into a patient’s home and assessed right away that the patient was having a heart attack. “I understood the urgent need to respond, and I got the ambulance there immediately to help her get the care she needed,” Arna recalls. “Later that day, I got a call from the ER doctor saying that I had saved that patient’s life. That made me feel so purposeful, that I really made a difference.”

VNS Health’s ability to make a difference in the lives of so many people over so many years lies in expert teamwork. “We’re at our best when we collaborate and coordinate together,” says Arna. “I uphold our Core Values by listening to my teammates and ensuring that they are part of the decision-making process. That upholds the morale of the team, inspiring everyone to support each other when they really need it.”

Arna’s team members praise her for leading by example. She anticipates and prepares for challenges and, when challenges do arise, she confronts them head-on with agility, exploring all solutions and choosing the best course of action.

“For instance, whenever we have staffing challenges or unplanned absences that affect operations, Arna will work with me to ensure that things are running smoothly,” says a team member who nominated her. “Arna always asks for and embraces feedback and new ideas, even if it means changing the course of action.”

To go back to the overview of the 2024 VNS Health Award Winners, click here.