VA New England Healthcare System

Anything is Possible

Obtaining goals is never easy, but people like Natalie Dell, who have unwavering determination and the ability to endure any obstacle, prove that any goal, no matter how difficult it may be, is achievable.

What was Natalie’s goal? To achieve the status of a worldclass athlete by securing a position on the elite women’s rowing national team. Her aspirations didn’t stop there— she was actually looking past the
national team at a spot on the Olympic team. It seemed like an unattainable dream, but Natalie decided to give it her all. The odds seemed stacked against her even before she got into a boatbecause in the sport of rowing, most female competitors stand well over six foot, but Natalie was a mere 5’ 8” tall. It didn’t slow her down, though—she just trained harder.

Fernando Malonado Garcia, Veteran, Natalie Dell, Bedford VA Employee and Olympic Bronze Medalist, and Michael “Mikey” Masse, Veteran

Not once, but three times Natalie tried out for the national team and was shut out. At the tryouts, she said, “I got destroyed by the other women.” After each attempt, she returned home and continued training on her own. It was difficult as she juggled training time before and after work at the Bedford VA, but she never gave up. On her fourth attempt, the coaches finally noticed Natalie and invited her to the training center—one ofonly 40 women who recruited from across the country for the team. She said, “From the day I entered the training center as full-time athlete, I had exactly two years to train for the Olympics.”

The strenuous seven-day-aweek training took place in Princeton, New Jersey, in the summer and San Diego, California, in the winter. In the midst of the training, Natalie still miraculously continued teleworking for the Bedford VA. “I had a huge network ofpeople, a hospital director, and a public affairs officer at the VA that stood behind me no matter what,” she said. “I knew everything would work out for me if the Olympics didn’t.” She added that having the VA on her side gave her a huge advantage over many of the other women who only had rowing because for them, it was all or nothing.

On the line, getting ready to race for a spot on the Olympic team, Natalie didn’t think she had a chance. She said, “After two years of training, I was ranked at the bottom of those 40 women. I was a long shot.” She might have been a long shot, but she made the team. Natalie and her quadruple sculls rowing team went on to win bronze at the 2012 Olympic games in London. Reflecting on her Olympic win, she said, “It’s a deep honor to win a medal for the United States, but I felt like I was winning a medal for the VA, too, especially Bedford VA, so I had a lot of pride in that.”

From left to right: Natalie Dell, Kara Kohler, Megan Kalmoe and Adrienne Martelli

Now that Natalie is back to work full-time at the Bedford VA, she said she is still experiencing what it feels like to be part of a team. “You cannot achieve anything great without the help of others,” she said, “whether it’s an Olympic medal or serving Veterans. You can’t do it alone. Working within the rowing sphere taught me anything is possible if you are willing to collaborate with others. It does inspire me to work for this incredible cause—for Veterans. It’s a big responsibility, but its possible because of teamwork.”

Giving her all to the Veterans she works with, she said, “I am very excited to put my career first. I have a master’s degree, and I’ve always been passionate about public health. It’s the first time I can put all my energy into my career.”

Currently, Natalie is managing a mental health research study at the VA facilities in Boston, Bedford, and Providence. The study investigates the health behaviors of Veterans in primary care and tracks what happens to them after they have had a positive screen for depression. “We are speaking with providers for primary care screening processes of mental health and looking for any opportunities to better serve our Veterans.”

What goals has Natalie set for her VA career? Only time will tell. But, one thing is certain: great things are in store for the Veterans she works with in VISN 1 because of her drive, determination, and ability to overcome any obstacle.

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