Meet the New Leaders: Lt. Cmdr. Danielle Braiotta, Clinic Manager

Clinic Manager, Branch Health Clinic

Story and photo by Joel Diller, Public Affairs

Lt. Cmdr. Danielle Braiotta, a native of San Bruno, Calif., earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, and commissioned as a naval officer in May 2010. She comes to NSA Souda Bay from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Oak Harbor, Wash., where she served as the clinic manager. She said her two tours of duty as a clinic manager have prepared her to manage the clinic’s operations as they serve Team Souda’s medical needs.

Why did you decide to become a nurse?

When I was in high school, I wanted to be either a nurse or a marine biologist. Marine biology was not something that was really available and applicable to being in the Navy. My grandfather was in the Navy and so I wanted to follow in his footsteps and serve my country. When I was in high school, I spoke with a recruiter who suggested I try out the Reserve Officer Training Corps program. I applied for the ROTC scholarship and they had a nurse option program. I did want to stay in California, so I found a really great opportunity to go to college at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego and was worked into the San Diego State University ROTC unit.

What does a clinic manager do?

It’s very much an administrative role – I don’t really do a whole lot of the traditional nursing. So, I’m managing schedules, managing templates for all of our providers and our independent duty corpsman. I’m a part of numerous committees: environment of care, infectious disease and control, joint commission sustainment, and controlled-substances inventory boards. There are many different hats that I wear to manage the clinical operation of the facility in terms of making sure that all of the care we’re providing for our patients is the highest quality.

What are you looking forward to most about living in Greece?

The views are amazing – it’s the most beautiful place that I have lived. And the culture and the food – I can’t wait to experience all of the food here in Greece. That has always been my focus over the past two weeks of being here, just trying out different restaurants and Greek cuisine. I can’t wait for hopefully the wineries to open so I can go and check out the local wine and honey and olive oil. And to experience the history of Greece. I’ve always been a history buff. My dad actually has his bachelor’s degree in history so I have a real love of history. So, being able to live in one of the most ancient cultures on the planet is absolutely incredible. I can’t wait to be able to travel –be able to go to Athens and really be able to see that history just come alive.

When you are not at work, what do you like to do?

I like to hike. I like to bake. I can’t wait to learn how to cook Greek food. Hopefully as things start to open up they’ll bring back some of the cooking classes, so that is definitely something I want to learn. I want to be able to go back and cook my family authentic Greek food.

What do you want Team Souda to know?

I’m here and I’m a nurse at heart. I have a servant’s heart. So, I’m here if anybody ever needs anything medically, support-wise, or has any questions. Certainly, going back to the states and trying to navigate the military insurance, the military medicine world, I know can be really difficult. Customer service really is my heart, so if anybody ever has any questions I always have an open door. And if I don’t know the answer, I’m going to reach out to my network, reach out to everybody that I know, until we can come up with the answer that the patient needs.