I wanted to volunteer for a hospice program after reading Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. Before reading that book, I believed that a good life was a long life and that the role of doctors was to extend the life of their patients. I had never considered what a good death was or what it … Continue reading “Accepting My Ignorance”
How “Toby’s” Lessons of Patience and Kindness Will Shape the Doctor I Hope to Become
When I first met Toby, he was quietly seated alone in his room, barely watching the overly loud television playing in the background. The moment the volunteer coordinator and I walked in, his face lit up and maintained a smile for the entirety of our hour long visit. Even as we left, this man who … Continue reading “How “Toby’s” Lessons of Patience and Kindness Will Shape the Doctor I Hope to Become”
On Fleeting Commitments and Dying Well
On the morning of February 15th, on the way to the hospice center I had been volunteering at, I remembered a story the abbot of Mettavaranam Monastery told. He recounts that when he made his last visit to the Venerable Suvaco, who was nearing death and suffering from dementia due to brain damage, Ven. Suvaco … Continue reading “On Fleeting Commitments and Dying Well”
The Sun Will Always Set
When signing up to be a hospice volunteer, I thought I would be helping others. However, there are many ways that the pre-med hospice volunteer program has helped me. I have worked in several patient care settings, including a personal care facility and an oncology unit in a hospital. In these settings, I have been … Continue reading “The Sun Will Always Set”
Learning the Difference between Constructive and Productive
A visiting speaker once advised me to find a purpose in life, then figure out how to get there, rather than choose a career then figure out what to do with it. He happened to be a doctor who gave up practice to found a global health charity, but he says he began with the … Continue reading “Learning the Difference between Constructive and Productive”
Seeing the Other Side of Palliative Care
Serving as a hospice volunteer this academic year has been a valuable experience in my development as a future healthcare provider. My experience in the program was atypical in many respects, but it raised my awareness of palliative care in ways that I could not have imagined. My experience was partly atypical because I began … Continue reading “Seeing the Other Side of Palliative Care”
The Meaning of Being a Hospice Volunteer
Being a hospice volunteer has been a special experience. I’ve learned about a different aspect of healthcare and myself and gained new tools that I can use in my future career through this experience. I’ve also learned the value of conversation and how truly listening can give you insight into a person’s life. I’ve become … Continue reading “The Meaning of Being a Hospice Volunteer”
Death: An Immovable Part of Life
Technique, science mastery, and the ability to analyze situations critically are all universal skills taught to pre-medical students in their undergraduate years. However, soft skills like bedside manner, an ability to relate to a patient, and an aptitude for mentally meeting a patient where they are all go beyond the textbook. When asked about hospice, … Continue reading “Death: An Immovable Part of Life”
Finding the Light in the Dark
When I first joined the hospice program, I entered with hesitation. Explaining to people the kind of volunteer work I was going to be involved in always had the same response: “Isn’t that depressing? Why would you want to do that?” I was worried about how the program would affect me and if I could … Continue reading “Finding the Light in the Dark”
New Perspectives
Hospice volunteering will, without a doubt, help shape me into the physician I wish to become one day. I have now experienced both sides of healthcare: the medical aspect which aims to treat a patient for their disease, and the comfort aspect which aims to provide happiness towards the end of one’s life. I will … Continue reading “New Perspectives”