Hospice reflections

Through hospice volunteering through the Athena Institute Pre-Med Hospice Volunteer Program, I was able to learn so many things. I worked with a variety of hospice patients suffering from a variety of conditions. This gave me the opportunity to communicate with a wide range of people who all had different circumstances and situations. Due to … Continue reading “My Hospice Volunteering Experience”

Almost approaching the end of the volunteering and looking back, I know that I have learned and grown a lot in many aspects. This experience provided me with an opportunity to gain a variety of medical knowledge but also it impacted my personal growth. I cherish this volunteering experience a lot because, all together, I … Continue reading “Values that we own”

My patient, “Rose,” and I hit it off very quickly when we met. While “Rose” struggles with independent mobility, she is of sound mind, and the two of us enjoy having in-depth conversations about a variety of topics. I visit her each weekend, and we always find something new to discuss. The first couple times … Continue reading “How Hospice Helped Me Grow, Both Individually and Professionally”

While volunteering at AGH, I have learned and gained a lot of insight into people’s everyday suffering and the rite of passage that begins the moment we are born: Death. As a natural occurrence, it manifests differently for each person. It should not be feared but rather accepted as an essential component of the journey … Continue reading “Embracing Transitions”

When I initially joined this program, I was not entirely sure what to expect. I understood that hospice programs were to medically assist people as they face the end of their life. However, I quickly realized through my volunteering that hospice, and dying in of itself, is much more than overcoming medical challenges. It is … Continue reading “Providing a Good Death”

One patient that stands out to me was a lady who had been in hospice for about a month. When I entered her room, she seemed to be asleep. I quietly introduced myself and saw that she briefly opened her eyes and then went back to sleep. I pulled up a chair and sat a … Continue reading “What I Learned from Hospice Volunteering”

When reflecting on my time as a hospice volunteer, it’s impossible not to think of the time that I spend with my first patient, “R.” I first met R in September of 2023. Initially, after I was told that her diagnosis was Alzheimer’s Disease, I was nervous to begin meeting with her. I had never … Continue reading “Growth Through Experience”

To put this experience into words proves difficult, simply because I’ve learned a lifetime of experience in just a few months. I think the best way to do so would be to explain who my first patient was, and how she transformed my perspective of the world of medicine. “Caroline” and I had a very … Continue reading “How I Learned a Lifetime in 8 Months”

I had the pleasure of two different patients and they were quite different. My first patient whom I spent my first semester with was sweet, but I did have a difficult time having conversations with her. She has dementia which leads to our conversations being relatively short and it being difficult for her to maintain … Continue reading “A Year in Memory”

Being a volunteer in the Athena Hospice program has been a transformative experience for me in my life. It has undoubtedly shaped my aspirations, furthering my desire to pursue a career in medicine. In the realm of healthcare, it is the human connection that truly defines the practice of medicine. Each interaction with a patient … Continue reading “Hospice Care: A Transformative Experience”