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Celebrate Service

  • Category: Living Well
  • Posted On:
  • Written By: Denise Chetta, Director of Volunteer Services

Celebrating Extraordinary People

Mary Fagan has been volunteering at Touro for more than six years. She primarily serves in the Family Surgery Lounge and loves bringing flowers from her garden to work. “Everyone is so nice here,” she says. “I love meeting the families and helping them feel at ease as their loved one undergoes surgery.” Mary plays an important role at Touro along with our other 353 volunteers. Our volunteers add an extra dimension of care for our patients and their families. Touro’s volunteers serve in a variety of departments, including Chemo Infusion Center, Emergency Department, Patient Financial Services, Pastoral Care, Infection Control, the Information Desks, Rehab, special events and a variety of other positions.

We are appreciative of the time and energy our volunteers dedicate. A common theme among our volunteers is their generosity for others. “As the family and patients leave, they tell me they appreciate my help. I find that very rewarding,” Mary states. Volunteer Joe Ginn agrees. Joe has been a volunteer at Touro for two years. He primarily serves in Employee Health and the Information Desk. “I appreciate hearing thank you from our patients,” Joe adds. “I love connecting with people and bringing a smile to their face.”

Why Volunteer?

While talking to the volunteers here, you will discover that many of them have a connection to Touro. Mary’s daughter was a Recovery Room nurse at Touro. “I had just retired, and my daughter suggested that I volunteer at Touro in the Surgery Lounge,” says Mary. In addition, Joe’s wife works at Touro as the Infection Control Manager. “I am a retired school teacher, and I saw the opportunity to give back to the city I love and the hospital system because of my previous health experience,” Joe states. Four years ago, Joe experienced a heart attack and underwent a quadruple bypass surgery at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe. He found a new appreciation for healthcare because every staff member participated in his healing process.

Both Joe and Mary have doctors at Touro and praise the care they receive here. Mary is about to undergo her fourth back surgery at Touro. Mary says,” Touro has such a friendly culture, and I’m not talking about just as a volunteer but as a patient as well.” Their love for Touro runs deep and they spread the message of volunteerism to their family and friends. “I have recommended so many of my older friends to volunteer at Touro. My dearest friend of 40 plus years is going to become a volunteer here,” Mary adds.

Recognition of Service

Due to Mary and Joe’s stellar performance at Touro, they were recognized as Touro’s 2015 Volunteers of the Year. “I feel truly blessed and humble to receive this recognition,” says Joe.

National Volunteer Week is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities. It’s about demonstrating that by working together we have the fortitude to meet our nation’s challenges and accomplish our goals. Thank you to Mary Fagan and Joe Ginn for their continued dedication to Touro Infirmary along with all of our wonderful volunteers!

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, call 504-897-8107 or click here to fill out an application.