Healthcare Volunteer Experiences

Throughout my undergraduate time, I’ve been able to volunteer at both Piedmont Athens Regional and University Cancer and Blood Center.

At Piedmont Athens Regional, I’ve served as a volunteer in both the resource center and the pediatric wing. In the resource center, I served as a point of contact for patients, families, faculty, and fellow volunteers. Working directly under the volunteer coordinator, I navigated the online healthcare management softwares ACEMAPP and Volgistics. This position taught me the inner-workings of a hospital environment and the importance of direction, management, and communication. On the pediatric wing, I was able to directly work with pediatric patients and their families through conversation, stocking, or routine checks. One day during my volunteer time, I spoke with an overwhelmed mother who asked me to sit with her son while she took a break. This interaction reiterated my love for serving the pediatric population and their families.

At University Cancer and Blood Center, I served as both welcoming staff and infusion care staff. On welcoming staff, I stood at the front of building in order to greet patients, direct them, aid in the check-in process, and/or assist them out of their vehicle. On the infusion floor, I routinely walked around to patients receiving infusions, offering them snacks, drinks, and blankets. Both positions allowed me to have personalized conversations with patients. Getting to see patients that I had built relationships with ring the bell and declare themselves cancer free strengthened my passion for oncology.