In honor of Veterans Day 2024, we are highlighting some of our veteran treasures – our staff! Welcome to this special edition of “Honoring FHW Veterans.”
Meet Eric Makovsky, who is the Vice President of Hospital Operations
Eric was a teacher for a handful of years focusing on vocal and general music, living in Pennsylvania and South Carolina in the late 1990s. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy, becoming a member of the U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters chorus stationed in Washington, D.C. The first few years on that assignment had him involved in more than 200 civilian and military engagements annually in both D.C. and around the country.
For the next seven years from July 2003 forward, Eric was the director of communications for the U.S. Navy Band assigned to public affairs and media relations, still stationed in Washington, D.C. By August 2010, he had a new assignment that took him out of music and into the Washington Adventist University, School of Nursing in Takoma Park, Maryland. By the start of nursing school, Eric had served nine years in the U.S. Navy Band and now was about to completely switch military careers.
Upon earning his bachelor’s degree in nursing, he was commissioned into the Navy Nurse Corps in 2013. He was primarily stationed in Portsmouth, Virginia, and San Diego, California during the eleven years he ultimately served as a nurse in the U.S. Navy. He also participated in several humanitarian deployments during his military nursing career.
Eric went on to earn a master’s degree as a clinical nurse specialist and became certified as an advanced practice nurse, as well as a forensic healthcare provider. He said his passion is to bring compassionate, evidence-based care to the bedside and grow leaders at all levels of the medical profession.
In March 2024, he retired from the Navy with an honorable discharge after 23 years of service. He and his family decided to move west. Nearly a decade ago, his wife, Melanie, and he visited a little mountain town and fell in love with the rugged Colorado peaks. That town was Ouray, and now they live just a couple of hours north and can visit the ‘Switzerland of the Rockies’ almost anytime. He and Melanie have four children, aged 14 to 27. His youngest can often be found on the soccer fields of Canyonview Park with Eric refereeing games, as they are both certified United States Soccer Federation soccer referees. And for self-care, he is an avid runner – both on roads and trails. He has completed more than 40 marathons, including six Boston Marathon races. His trail running includes ultra trail running with fifteen 100-mile events to his credit.
They are all excited to immerse themselves in the Grand Valley community.
We are so proud Eric found his way to Family Health West and thank you for your service!
