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In This Issue:
Clockwise, from top left: Kris Kossmann, Verona Brooks, Keither Lennards, Tom Kelly and Christina Banion, some of BWH's dedicated volunteers
BWH volunteer Tom Kelly considers himself lucky; each time he comes to the hospital to offer sentiments of comfort and hope to those in need, he often receives those warm gestures in return.
"There seems to be an overriding presence of joy inside the entire building," said Kelly, who has been volunteering in Chaplaincy Services for the last decade as both a pastoral visitor and Eucharistic minister. "Everyone here is so welcoming and accepting."
On April 28, BWHers came together in Carrie Hall to celebrate volunteers at the fifth annual Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast.
Volunteers heard from Mairead Hickey, PhD, RN, executive vice president and chief operating officer, who said that without their contributions, BWH wouldn't be the kind of hospital it is today.
"You touch so many people's lives here," she said. "It's through your work, whether directly or indirectly, that you help us provide the very best care to patients."
So far this year, BWH's 577 volunteers have contributed a combined 32,422 hours of service. BWH volunteers serve in many departments throughout the hospital, including Central Transport Services, Pathology, Patient and Family Relations and the Department of Nursing's Integrative Care Reiki Volunteer Program.
Shelita Bailey, director of the Office for Sponsored Staff and Volunteer Services, reflected on how passionate volunteers are about their work.
"Thank you doesn't seem quite enough to express how the hospital feels about the service you give," Bailey said.
This year's keynote speaker was Jayme Dowdall, MD, of the Division of Otolaryngology, who began her career as a volunteer at BWH at age 18. She said she always knew she wanted to work in a hospital, but this became even more evident during the years she volunteered.
"It's this very palpable, patient-centered spirit that makes it so special to volunteer here," said Dowdall.
Verona Brooks nodded in agreement. Brooks has been volunteering for the past six years on Tower 15D and said the patients she spends time with have become a part of her family.
"Many times these patients have no one to talk to," she said. "So when I go into their rooms, they take me on as their family. Volunteering here is the greatest gift I could ever receive."