Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been talking with patient’s family members and caregivers rather than directly to the patient themselves. Through the Athena program, I have learned much about the role of hospice, the process of death and have been able to reflect on how I personally view death. Before entering this program, … Continue reading “Death is a Family Matter”
Category: Athena Hospice Program
this is for posts in the category of Athena Hospice
Impact of compassion in treating the patient over the disease
Before becoming a Hospice volunteer, I had just recently begun thinking more critically about my ingrained assumptions surrounding end of life care and death. An anthropology course I took in the spring of 2020, titled “Culture, Health and Illness”, made my beliefs more visible as it discussed many of the ways that biomedicine focuses on … Continue reading “Impact of compassion in treating the patient over the disease”
Acceptance of impermanence
Unfortunately, because of Corona I was unable to form a relationship with a patient, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t greatly impacted by this program. Throughout the course of this past year, and the reflection prompts that we have completed, I have greatly increased my knowledge about the dying process and have definitely become more … Continue reading “Acceptance of impermanence”
Personal Enrichment of the Hospice Program
My experience with the hospice program was a fantastic experience and incredibly beneficial in developing my interpersonal skills specific to a medical-type environment. Interacting with patients and family members who are part of this program has given me the opportunity to rethink my outlook on what is the goal of medicine. For many patients who … Continue reading “Personal Enrichment of the Hospice Program”
To New Experiences
Over the past 7 months, I have experienced an entirely new side of medicine and healthcare. Through the connections I formed with my hospice patient, as well as group discussions and reflections throughout this period, I have gained invaluable experience and insight that has allowed me to develop my professional and personal skills. Moreover, my … Continue reading “To New Experiences”
Finding Meaning in Medicine
Although I didn’t have the traditional pre-med hospice experience, I still believe that I have learned so much over the past year. I have gained a deeper understanding of myself, of the dying process, and of what it means to work in the medical field. I did not have the chance to work with a … Continue reading “Finding Meaning in Medicine”
A Breakdown of the Benefits of Volunteering for Hospice Care
A Breakdown of the Benefits of Volunteering for Hospice Care With regard to the hospice program by the Athena Institute and volunteering for Anova hospice, I have learned a lot as well as expanded upon my abilities as a potential future physician. I have worked with three individuals who were on hospice care or caring … Continue reading “A Breakdown of the Benefits of Volunteering for Hospice Care”
Connection in Loneliness
Working as a hospice volunteer this year was an unconventional experience. As I struggled to recalibrate to online classes, and to a summer and many semesters alone at home, I spent a period of time leaving this line of work to the wayside. During this past summer, I decided to reach out to a program … Continue reading “Connection in Loneliness”
Life Learning through Letters
My most meaningful hospice patient relationship was with an elderly lady named “Joanne”. With COVID-19 restrictions in place, I never had the chance to meet her, but I wrote weekly letters to her from the beginning of October to the end of March. At first, I was skeptical about sending cards to Joanne. I realized … Continue reading “Life Learning through Letters”
The Beauty in Hospice Care
It is hard to summarize what I have learned through this incredible program in a few words because the knowledge I have gained is vast and vital to my future as a physician. Most notably, I feel one of the most valuable lessons I learned was the reality of hospice. Society carries the false narrative … Continue reading “The Beauty in Hospice Care”