(upbeat music) - Hello and welcome to "Prairie Pulse."

Coming up a little bit later in the show, we'll learn about the Moberg Fly-In.

But, first, joining us now is Harold Brent Pharis, the Fargo VA Healthcare System Director.

Brent, thanks for joining us today.

- Thank you for having me.

- Well, as we get started, and we always do, tell the folks a little bit about yourself and your background.

- Sure.

My name's Brent Pharis.

I come from Indiana.

But I did a career of over 23 years in the United States Army as a combat medic.

I always joke with my staff, I've only had ever one mission in my life.

And that is to treat veterans from the time I was 18.

And, now, I'm 55.

I'm still doing the same thing.

And so I retired from the Army in 2013.

And I've worked for the VA since then.

- Well, this may sound like a silly question.

How did you become involved, well, with the Fargo VA though?

- Sure.

Well, the reputation of the Fargo VA is kind of second to none.

So when you think about the VA as an enterprise, you're talking about 139 hospitals that are treating veterans across the country.

Everyone knows that the Fargo VA healthcare system is always number one, number two in patient experience, number one, number two in cleanliness.

But, most importantly, number one in the character of the people of the workforce and the dedication that they bring to their job every day.

So I was applying to be a medical center director as I was going.

And Fargo was number one on my list.

So when I got selected, it was a win-win for me.

- Well, with that said, talk about your role at the Fargo VA.

What does it mean to be a healthcare system director?

- So the easiest way that I tell people when they ask me that is it's kind of like being a CEO of any other healthcare system.

So I am, overall, responsible for the 1,532 employees that work.

We service about a little over 34,000 veterans from Northwest Minnesota, the state of North Dakota, and a large county in South Dakota.

So we have 11 sites.

We are a multidisciplinary, multi-complex healthcare system that is delivering care to veterans, either in-house or through our community partners.

And I sit over the top of that with an executive leadership team, a chief medical officer, a chief nurse, and a COO, or what we call an associate director.

But we make sure that we are supporting and delivering care that the veterans need today.

- Now, have you worked at other VA offices or things coming up through it?

Obviously, your experience as a combat medic gives you some background of healthcare.

But, yeah.

- Absolutely.

So I started in Missouri with the VA.

I got recruited by a friend of mine who was like, "You really need to come to the VA."

I did spend a decade at Portland, Oregon.

I was the associate director or chief operating officer of that healthcare system.

I wanted to move back to the Midwest.

My wife's family comes from Northwest Minnesota.

So it was a desired place to come.

And so, before here, I was the interim director at Western New York out of Buffalo.

- Okay.

And you said you've been here since 2013, I think.

- No, I've been here since November 2nd, 2025.

I'm coming up on my year.

- Okay.

Oh, you retired?

- [Brent] Yeah.

- That's what you did.

- [Brent] I retired in 13.

- What kind of work do Veterans Affairs offices do?

And does it differ from city to city?

- So there will be differences in the complexity of healthcare and offices.

But about 70% to 75%, now, I'll just quote the secretary of the VA, "wants us, about 70 to 75% of what we do as an enterprise across all 50 states and everything is to this.

That it is standardized."

So we deliver healthcare in its complexity, based on our abilities.

So what that means is if you're in the Minneapolis VA, they may have cardiothoracic surgery and they may have... I won't have that because the need and the demand is not here for us.

So for the most part, veterans engage with us in healthcare.

We navigate the complexity of the healthcare that they need, either internally, through another VA, or through community partners.

- What are some of the biggest challenges facing veterans?

- The biggest challenges for veterans that I would say, in my time being with the VA, is there is a transition from active duty or military service to what we call civilian life.

I always say this.

Serving in the military, as I've done it and you've done it, that's not just a job.

That becomes your identity.

It becomes a core value of who you are.

And what we do when veterans are transitioning out of that kind of calling, if you will, in taking their talents to their civilian workforce or their next chapter in their life, we are an organization that remembers who they are.

And what I always tell my staff is we are the fulfillment of a promise that the American taxpayers, the American people made to men and women who were willing to fight and die on behalf of this country.

This is their healthcare system.

This is not a benefit.

They have earned this.

It is their building.

And we are delivering their care.

And that's how we approach them.

- On average, how many people does the Fargo VA, I guess, office assist on a daily, weekly, or however you count it?

- So we count it as a catchment area.

So we're servicing shy of 35,000 unique veterans.

That means we have about just shy of 35,000 veterans that engage our healthcare system.

And to remember, our healthcare system goes from Bemidji all the way to Williston.

And so we cover North Dakota, Northwest Minnesota, and a large county in South Dakota.

So when we say our healthcare system, we're talking about it holistically.

We understand the hospitals in Fargo.

But all 11 sites that are delivering care have our number one priority and our priority of focus.

And that is the front door for the veteran to engage with us.

- Well, with that said, you said you have 11 facilities across the region.

- [Brent] Yep.

- What are your goals for healthcare in the region?

- So what we have to do is, and one of my biggest brags, as I like to say, is Fargo VA Healthcare System, as I came in, you get a lot of time to think about your new job.

Because it's not immediate.

Like, I didn't get selected, and then like, a week later, I showed up.

It takes a while.

So I get time to study the healthcare system.

Talk to the staff.

Talk to the veterans and everything.

We are doing a comprehensive approach about how do we get the most complex touch of care as close to the veterans as we can?

Like, right now, if you're in Bismarck, and you're driving up by the Walmart, and you're like, "What is that huge building going in?"

That's the VA new CBOC.

We are going from about a 9,900 square foot building to a 35,000 square foot building.

We are taking specialty and multi-specialty care into Bismarck.

Why?

Well, that is to put care closer to Minot, Williston, Dickinson, Bismarck itself.

Because veterans are sometimes forced to traverse long distances.

Whether they're engaging with us or in the community, they're required to drive, you know, 300 miles for care.

We are focused on telehealth capabilities.

Getting care out to our CBOC.

So if you need a preliminary cardiology appointment, you shouldn't have to drive all the way to Fargo for a 30-minute appointment.

We can do that video right at the CBOC where you're at.

We are also building... The reason we're building Bismarck is to build like a referral hub.

That we can add complexity to that building so veterans are not just automatically having to traverse the state to go to Fargo.

We are pushing care out to veterans.

And we're doing that with speaking to the veterans.

Them telling us what they need.

And that's what we're trying to deliver.

- Maybe you said this earlier.

But could you define CBOC?

You've used it.

- Community-based outpatient clinic.

A lot of people would call it a family medicine clinic or something like that.

Of course, in the military, being in the military, you know, we have to have an acronym for everything.

So the VA has the same curse.

- Again, just wanted to help out.

You know, I understand Minnesota recently became the fourth state to declare a functional end to veteran homelessness.

What does that milestone mean for local VA offices, even in states like North Dakota?

- So, for us, because we cover Northwest Minnesota, my staff at my community referral center are the part of that functional zero.

I always brag about this.

I have one of the most proactive homeless programs in our healthcare systems.

And what I will say to this is we do vouchers.

Placing veterans.

Getting them into stable housing.

So if you use 100% as your goal, my staff are exceeding that to almost 200%.

They are housing veterans.

They are getting them in stable housing.

And I say this.

When we talk about the challenges veterans have, you know, there's never usually just one challenge.

It takes a holistic approach.

There are multiple challenges that must be overcome.

And our healthcare system, the staff that I get to serve on a daily basis, are so dedicated to this.

You are seeing that result in Minnesota.

You're seeing it in North Dakota.

You're seeing the Staff Sergeant Fox Grant given to, $2.2 million given to North Dakota on homelessness and everything.

This is the community and my staff, working hand in hand, arm by arm, to, to your point, make homeless veterans, you know, a thing of the past.

A functional zero.

- Yeah.

Why has homelessness been such a major issue among veteran population?

- Well, I think that's a complex question that it has a complex answer.

There is no one single source that I have found that leads veterans to homelessness.

I have a lot of friends that have exited the military and not transitioned well.

They have either found themselves in anger issues, alcohol issues, substance abuse issues.

Those things are kind of like dominoes that are falling.

And what I would say is getting people back into a stable foundation, giving them a chance at a second chance, the ability to see, you know, whether that transition went well or not.

But homelessness in the veteran population doesn't have a single source of causality.

So that's why we do not approach it with a single source solution.

We are looking at an array.

Everything from mental health, primary care, social work, homelessness outreach, job, vocational rehab.

All of the things that a veteran would need to turn or to turn in a different direction, we are trying to holistically provide that.

- You know, what is the VA doing to raise awareness for things like mental health issues and suicide prevention?

- Well, I think one of the biggest things that we don't always brag about is the VA is the number one researcher in evidence-based therapy.

Mostly when it comes to mental health in the veteran population.

And I think most mental health professionals would say that mental health, as a discipline, has an approach.

Mental health in the veteran population, due to causality, war or the different things that cause it, it takes a different approach.

It takes a different discipline.

And our mental health providers and everything are practicing and researching for future evidence-based therapies that will better serve the veteran community today and tomorrow.

- How important is it in creating community connections with the local VA and local organizations?

- There is nothing more important.

Our veterans live in the community.

They are part of the community.

We are part of the community.

We don't do this without community involvement, without the partners, without our veteran service organizations partnering with community.

Everything that we are doing in the fabric of our plan to deliver healthcare at every layer has the community involved in there.

And just to give you an example.

I have almost 300 volunteers that volunteer just continuously at my healthcare system for no other reason but to be that smiling face, that assistance.

But, most importantly, they are part of our community.

And those are the things that make veterans feel at home.

They feel supported, whether they're in our building or in the community.

And we could not do this without our community partner.

- You know, is providing healthcare and even housing assistance considered suicide prevention?

And why is that?

- Like we said, suicide prevention is a complex question.

And it needs a complex answer.

And what I would say is there are many factors that are leading and could lead somebody to that ultimate decision.

And what we're doing is we are creating a holistic healthcare system with the veteran at the center.

Because every part of their treatment that we can treat, we believe, is prevention and suicide prevention.

We are building a brand new integrated pain management center on the back of our healthcare system.

And a lot of people, a lot of veterans said, "What is that?"

52% of all veterans that successfully take their own life have a primary or secondary diagnosis.

They have a diagnosis of long-term pain.

That means we need to change the way we treat long-term pain.

And that is suicide prevention.

- Okay.

Well, Veterans Day is coming up.

And maybe you could, for those that maybe don't know, but can you give us a brief overview of the history of the holiday and what is Veterans Day?

- So Armistice Day, as everyone, you know, we talk about the pause or the ceasefire.

Veterans Day has become a day that I believe is very critical.

We have a lot of days that we recognize.

Veterans Day is that day for any person who stood up and said, "To the extent of my life, I will defend this country.

Whatever I'm called to do."

And it doesn't matter what era you served in.

Whether you served two years or 32 years, it does not matter.

Veterans Day is the day our country can come together and say, "We recognize, acknowledge, and we thank you for the service of the country that we get to live in."

And that's what Veterans Day means to most of us.

- Yeah.

And what about the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day?

- Well, Memorial Day.

I always tell people I kind of cringe when I've had people say, "Happy Memorial Day."

You know, I have a lot of names tattooed on my arm of people.

Memorial Day is when we get to remember those that made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of this country.

That's when we're remembering those people who gave everything to our country.

So that's the difference.

- Yeah, what is it?

"All gave some.

Some gave all."

- [Brent] Yeah, absolutely.

- How can citizens maybe participate in Veterans Day?

- I always say there are a few ways that veterans can participate.

I will tell you the veteran service organizations here in our catchment are second to none.

And American Legions, VFWs, different organizations that are, they do ceremonies, and remembrance, and everything.

It means a lot when the community comes.

And I know it may only be 45 minutes, or an hour, or whatever.

But it means a lot when people dedicate their time to come out, observe, and take part in those ceremonies and everything.

But, most importantly, those veterans in the group, they see you.

And they understand that they are appreciated.

And what they did matters.

- Is there anything that people can do to support the Fargo VA or similar organizations?

Those 11 facilities you've got.

- Yep, I would say this.

I'm going to take a little bit different of a spin.

A lot of people want me to say, "If you are a nonprofit and you offer something, to engage with us."

And we want that.

Yeah, absolutely we want that.

But what I also want to say is there are people with skills and talents.

And I always say this.

Running a healthcare system's like kind of running a city.

I have everything from grounds crew to housekeepers to engineers to plumbers, carpenters, surgeons.

You know, everything in between.

I would say this.

If you're looking for a place to take your talents, your skills, and your education, I would want you to give us a thought.

It is a place to bring your occupation into a calling and into a mission of service.

And we would greatly appreciate that.

- Well, with that said, if people want more information, where can they go?

Who can they contact?

- What I would say is you can, the simple thing.

You can Google us on our website and everything.

That is the quickest way to find out our points of contact information.

See who we are, what we offer, and everything like that.

But, most importantly, if they wanted to contact us and I didn't ask on the actual number, we have a main 3700 number.

They could call our main number and just ask the question.

And we'll direct them to the people they need to talk to.

- Okay.

Brent, thanks for joining us today.

- No, absolutely.

Thank you for having me.

- Stay tuned for more.

(upbeat music) Take off to Bemidji, Minnesota, where aircraft enthusiasts meet for a weekend of camping, entertainment, and a shared love for flying at the Moberg Fly-In.

Bringing together pilots, spectators, and individuals interested in learning more about aviation, the Moberg Fly-In brings together a community with the sights, sounds, and stories of flight.

(upbeat music) - You know, flying is definitely a passion thing.

Since I can remember, being a little kid, just staring at airplanes.

Loved airplanes.

I got my first airplane ride from a friend of my dad's and remember it like it was yesterday.

There's a lot of people that go into aviation for the career.

And then you'll find those people that just love the pure joy of flying.

(plane engine roaring) - We're currently in Bemidji, Minnesota at our Moberg Air Base for our Moberg Fly-In.

Our fly-in here is a gathering that gets our EAA chapter together and allows people around the state, Minnesota, North Dakota, whoever wants to come in, fly with us.

- So this would be the 15th year of the Moberg Fly-In.

Typically, a fly-in is just like a car show.

It's just a way to get common interest airplane guys together.

Whether they can fly to it or drive to it, it's a good time to converse, and hang out with fellow pilots, and see different airplanes.

(upbeat music) We've had everything from $4 million Kodiaks come in to experimental one-man Volkswagen powered ultralights.

- So the under wing camping is what it means.

Under the wing.

They'll use their wing as their rain cover, essentially.

And so if it rains, the wing will wash the water away from their tent stuff.

(upbeat music) A lot of the older people that started aviation many years ago have stories that you can't believe are true.

Their knowledge and experience that they've done in 40 years of flying.

It's been a great experience of learning of what they used to do back in the day with no GPS.

Now, the younger generation is teaching some of the older generation of the new electronics that they have in the aircraft and makes flying these a lot easier.

(upbeat music) - Our event here, the years that it's been good weather and landed on good times.

We've had up to 47 airplanes.

Half of them being sea planes.

Half of them on wheels.

And that's the joy of this location at Moberg Air Base, is we have a nice 2,000 foot grass runway.

And then we have a mile of lake.

(upbeat music) - It's not too often that there's a grass strip and a water landing at the same place.

So it opens up to both wheel aircraft and float aircraft for one single fly-in.

So it makes it pretty unique, especially in Minnesota.

There's only maybe two other airports that have a little bit of water nearby.

(upbeat music) - Float planes, in general, locally, about float planes is, as you would imagine, it's fun to go flying.

But you can't just pull over and visit people unless they have a runway.

So with a float plane, you got the lakes.

And there's a lot of people that have lakes.

There's restaurants on lakes up here in Northern Minnesota.

So it becomes a lot more social.

You can go places, visit people, stop.

The reason I love float planes.

Two reasons.

My family likes to go to Canada.

And we have a camp up there.

And they're remote.

So it takes, you know, five, six hours to get there on land where we can be there in less than two hours on the plane.

And just that freedom of not having to sit in line at the border.

You do a quick land on the water and check in.

And it's usually 5, 10 minutes.

And the nice thing about a float plane is you're always landing into the wind.

So you don't have to fight those crosswinds you would on a hard surface runway.

- Going up in the air and flying, it's so hard to explain in words.

It opens up new vision to life.

When you fly a little GA airplanes, you're flying between 1,000 to 3,000 feet above the ground versus 35,000 feet.

You can see a lot more.

You can still see the ground.

You can see the terrain.

You can see the people driving in their cars.

People outside walking.

It's a pretty cool experience that, yeah, you can fly in a big airliner.

But it's never going to be the same as hopping in a little airplane.

Advice that I'd have for people getting into aviation.

No matter how old you are, how young you are, you can start at any time.

People have started when they've hit retirement.

And they've gotten their license and started another job.

Or just the passion of just flying around.

It's never too late to experience it.

(upbeat music) - We're trying hard to keep it alive and grow it each year.

We've been doing this for 15 years and, hopefully, to continue for another 15.

It's always going to be the week or two after Oshkosh.

We like to put a little time span in there for people to get home, and settle in, and look for another adventure.

(upbeat music) - Well, that's all we have on "Prairie Pulse" for this week.

And, as always, thanks for watching.

(upbeat music) - [Narrator] Funded by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4th, 2008 and by the members of Prairie Public.