Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System celebrates longest tenured employee

Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System Chief of Audiology and Speech Pathology Dr. Margaret Peak was recognized today for her ongoing commitment to serving veterans and other eligible beneficiaries at VA facilities in Missouri and Mississippi during her 50-year career.

Dr. Peak began her VA career with the St. Louis VA Medical Center in 1972.  She oversees audiology services at GCVHCS facilities in Biloxi, Mobile, Pensacola, and Panama City Beach.

Due to COVID-19, the ceremony was mostly virtual and all of her family, friends, past students, and co-workers were on the call wishing her a congratulations on her achievement.

During the event, Dr. Peak was presented with a proclamation on behalf of the City of Biloxi and her 50 years of service certificate and pin. “To know that what I really wanted to do, I seem to have done and that the staff has been appreciative of it, it’s been a real pleasure watching students come and sad to see them go, but lovely to see them stay in the system or work out in the community because it just means more and more people are being helped.”

Medical Center Director Bryan Matthews said, “Dr. Peak, over the years, has done any and everything she can to meet the demands of what our veterans need.”

Dr. Peak was recognized in March 2021 during the 2021 Joint Defense Veterans Audiology Conference where she received the Lieutenant Frank B. Walkup IV Distinguished Service Award.