Fort Leavenworth medical center boasts 2 mother-daughter employee duos

By Maria C. Yager - Munson Army Health Center Public Affairs OfficerMay 8, 2024

Lisa Dunn Jr. and her mother, Lisa Dunn Sr., both work at Munson Army Health Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. They said they both enjoy assisting Military Health System beneficiaries at MAHC to ensure positive patient experiences. Defense Health Agency photos by Maria. C. Yager
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lisa Dunn Jr. and her mother, Lisa Dunn Sr., both work at Munson Army Health Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. They said they both enjoy assisting Military Health System beneficiaries at MAHC to ensure positive patient experiences. Defense Health Agency photos by Maria. C. Yager (Photo Credit: Defense Health Agency photos by Maria. C. Yager) VIEW ORIGINAL
Samantha Kiely and her mother, Mary Jo Torgler, work behind the scenes at Munson Army Health Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Torgler said that they keep MAHC safe and supplied. Defense Health Agency photos by Maria. C. Yager
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Samantha Kiely and her mother, Mary Jo Torgler, work behind the scenes at Munson Army Health Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Torgler said that they keep MAHC safe and supplied. Defense Health Agency photos by Maria. C. Yager (Photo Credit: Defense Health Agency photos by Maria. C. Yager) VIEW ORIGINAL

With Mother’s Day approaching May 12, some Munson Army Health Center employees at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, reflected on the unique circumstance of working within the same organization as their mother/daughter.

Lisa Dunn Sr. and Lisa Dunn Jr.

Lisa Dunn Sr. worked on post at the Defense Commissary Agency for 16 years before transferring to MAHC in January 2023.

About a month later, her daughter, Lisa Dunn Jr., transferred to MAHC from the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center SHARP (Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention) Academy, also on Fort Leavenworth.

“I had been at the Commissary for a long time and wanted a change,” explained Dunn Sr. about coming to work at the health center.

She works at the MAHC information desk, welcoming patients when they arrive at the health center, answering questions and helping them find what they need.

“What I like most about my job is all the nice people I come in contact with,” Dunn Sr. said.

Her daughter has a similar outlook.

“I like being a friendly face that they can remember during their visits at Munson,” said Dunn Jr., a medical support assistant in MAHC’s Department of Public Health.

Both mother and daughter serve pivotal roles in maintaining the flow of information and facilitating a seamless patient experience.

“I get a lot of satisfaction assisting service members and their families with their health care,” Dunn Jr. said.

And it is evident that patients like them, as well.

“We get so many positive comments about them from patients,” said Tiffany Dipman, MAHC’s patient advocate.

Dipman manages the health center’s patient satisfaction programs, including the Department of Defense Interactive Customer Evaluation and the Defense Health Agency Joint Outpatient Experience Survey. Dipman reviews all feedback provided by patients and routes them for appropriate action.

“Both of these ladies consistently receive the highest marks on all their patient interactions,” Dipman said.

Dunn Jr. said that working at the same organization as her mother is great.

“We live together, as well, and I love that we get to spend so much time together. It creates another bonding experience, even though it is work,” she said.

And, with Mother’s Day approaching, Dunn Jr. provided an assessment of her mom.

“She is the best mother that a girl could ask for,” Dunn Jr. said. “She is appreciated much more than she knows, and I hope that she has a wonderful Mother's Day!”

Mary Jo Torgler and Samantha Kiely

Behind the scenes on the support services side of MAHC’s mission, Mary Jo Torgler said she and her daughter, Samantha Kiely, keep MAHC safe and supplied.

Torgler is the safety and occupational health manager for the facility and has been at MAHC since 2001.

“I love working down the hall from my daughter, because we do at least get to see each other,” Torgler said.

Kiely transferred to MAHC after working in logistics across the installation at the Joint Regional Corrections Facility for four years.

“I always wanted to work over here (at MAHC), so I kept applying for jobs until one finally stuck,” said Kiely, who is the facilities sole supply technician. She is responsible for ordering all medical supplies for MAHC, including the dental, veterinary and mental health clinics, and the medical mission at the Military Corrections Complex.

“She hit the ground running and is a valued part of our team. Her efforts have a direct impact on patient care,” said Tim Clements, MAHC’s logistics chief and Kiely’s supervisor.

For Kiely, she said working at MAHC with her mom is a win.

“I love my team over here. It is such a great environment. And my mom brings me lunch all the time and that is nice,” Kiely said. “Everything I'm proud to see in myself, I learned from her.”

Kiely shared her gratitude in a message for her mother.

“Thanks for being the best mentor, guide and example a person could have asked for,” Kiely said. “Love you — happy Mother’s Day!”

To learn more about career opportunities at Munson Army Health Center, visit USAJobs.gov and search keyword “Military Treatment Facilities under DHA” and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, for location.