Skip to contents
In This Issue:
Last year, 836 volunteers collectively racked up nearly 25,000 hours of service at BWH, but their impact on hospital services is truly immeasurable.
“Think of the many lives you’ve touched. Think of the joy, comfort, love, wisdom and humor that you shared with patients, families and staff,” BW/F President Betsy Nabel, MD, told volunteers who gathered for the annual Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast last month.
The breakfast honored the contributions of volunteers to 65 departments across BWH last year.
“Volunteers are visible in every corner of the hospital, including at the information desk at 75 Francis Street, where they stand ready and willing to help patients and visitors navigate the hospital,” said Chris Vogel, program and training coordinator in the Office for Sponsored Staff & Volunteer Services. “Volunteers also visit the inpatient floors, bringing reading materials to patients or providing reiki sessions.”
. Volunteer Verona Brooks shares a laugh with BW/F President Betsy Nabel.
This year’s keynote speaker was David Walton, MD, MPH, of BWH’s Division of Global Health Equity and deputy chief of mission in Haiti for Partners In Health (PIH). He spoke about volunteerism and PIH’s effort to build a 180,000-square-foot hospital in Haiti, which will open its doors to patients later this year.
“What volunteers do every day changes lives. When patients leave the hospital, it’s those simple touches that you bring to the patient care experience that completely transform their experience at BWH. This is one of the reasons that we are successful,” said Walton