I volunteered at the inpatient unit at Gilchrist Hospice Care in Baltimore. The first patient that I truly connected with was “Ms. Emily”. Every time I visited her, she would tell me stories like what it was like when she was growing up, how she felt about her kids, and her experience working as an elevator lady. She was very sweet to me and always made sure I was comfortable when I was with her. She was diagnosed with senile degeneration of the brain, and I saw her transitioning from being able to have a conversation with me to not remembering who I was. I think the training was very helpful in helping me to understand that silence was ok. Near the end of her transition, I would just sit with her and watch a show, or hold her hand to let her know that I was there. The training I received was also very helpful for me when I was meeting new patients. For example, I learned ways to communicate that encourage others to talk more, like saying “How are you feeling today” rather than “How are you”. The prompts I received during my time volunteering helped me along the way. During winter break, I received a recommended reading list that deepened my appreciation for hospice.
I learned a lot from the patients I talked to. For example, Ms. Emily helped me explore my spirituality. As a student of science, I often find it difficult to reconcile the scientific principles I learn and the metaphysical. However, Ms. Emily explained to me that they are not necessarily conflicting and that science helps to explain how things happen, and religion can give reasons as to why they happen the way they do. Speaking with her opened my mind to new perspectives and values, inspiring me to appreciate the multifaceted nature of the human experience. Being a hospice volunteer did not really change my desire to go to medical school. However, it changed the kind of physician that I wanted to become. Through hospice, I received training in alternative treatments like Reiki that some patients enjoyed receiving. Learning about patients’ preferences and how much they feel they benefit from alternative treatments made me realize the importance of holistic and patient-centred care.
Hospice volunteering has definitely been a transformative experience for me. I think the most important change I’ve noticed about myself was that I was no longer afraid of my own death, or having difficult conversations with others who have lost someone. Death for me is no longer a mysterious concept that I have to avoid and push out of my thoughts. Instead, I learned to help others find meaning and value knowing that death is inevitable. I think I will definitely highlight my experience with hospice for my medical school application because compared to other clinical activities, hospice gave me the time and space to truly connect and interact with patients. Hospice has prepared me to become a culturally competent and compassionate healthcare professional.