Connect

This is the latest installment in our Connect article series “Hope at Work” — showcasing inspiring stories about how our team members contribute to UVA Health’s 10-year Strategic Plan: “One Future Together Health and Hope for All.” No matter where you work, you have an opportunity to inspire hope in others. These stories show how.

Fortune Gashaw and Anja Lehmensiek aren’t your average high school students. While they could spend all summer lounging poolside with friends, these Charlottesville teenagers are choosing to serve at least 50 hours over eight weeks in UVA Health's Junior Volunteer Program — advancing superior patient outcomes and working on the front lines to strengthen our foundation as part of our UVA Health Strategic Plan.

A rising high school senior at Charlottesville High School, Fortune arrived in the United States from Ethiopia when she was eight years old. She’s not new to volunteering — as a member of the Key Club and the Habitat for Humanity Club at school, Fortune never hesitates to lend a hand.

As she explains, “I really like the community and social aspects of volunteering, getting to meet new people, and feeling like I’m helping out in some way.” Fortune heard about the Junior Volunteer Program through her friend’s parents, who knew Fortune wanted to be a nurse and thought she’d be a perfect fit for the program. 

Anja moved to the United States from South Africa in August 2022. Now a rising sophomore, she’s on the Western Albemarle High School track and cross-country teams — and part of the Medical Career Club, through which she learned about our Junior Volunteer Program. “I want to be a doctor, so I thought it would be a nice opportunity to learn more about what it’s like to work in a hospital and see what people do. I also knew it would be great to volunteer during the summer holiday and help people in some small way,” Anja says. 

Rooted in Service 

Post-World War II, when volunteerism in hospitals began, “candy striper” roles were a steppingstone into nursing. In the late 1970s, early 1980s, when more men began volunteering, the candy striper uniform morphed into red polo shirts, and junior volunteer programs launched at hospitals across the country. 

Maureen Oswald, Volunteer Coordinator, UVA Health, has been a part of our program since she arrived at UVA Health in 2005, and says she’s had Junior Volunteers whose parents and grandparent have participated in the program in their youth. There are also current UVA Health team members such as nurses and volunteer coordinators who once served as Junior Volunteers. Some now serve as Madison House volunteers.

In Demand

“This program recruits and trains future healthcare providers,” Maureen notes. “We have so much interest, there’s not enough space to accommodate every student who applies.”

All prospective Junior Volunteers must apply to a lottery. If a student is chosen in the lottery, and they participate in a mandatory information session with their parent to review the requirements of the program, only then can they fully apply to the program.

Parents also must sign a pledge that their teen is mature and responsible enough to be a Junior Volunteer. And if the high schooler can’t attend the all-day orientation on the first Monday of the eight-week session, they can’t be in the program. 

By the Numbers

Fewer than 30 percent of the 142 high school students who applied this year were admitted to the program. The 2023 class of 40 Junior Volunteers comes from 20 high schools in Virginia; seven participants travel more than one hour each way to Charlottesville. One Junior Volunteer traveled from North Carolina and is staying with a family member for the summer to volunteer. At this year’s orientation, Maureen polled the group of 40 on their fluency in other languages. Some of this year’s class is fluent in Hindi, Spanish, Korean, Russian, Italian, and French.

Maureen manages the Junior Volunteer training, sometimes reversing rules that these teenagers have been taught. As Maureen says to them, “For 12 years your parents have been telling you not to talk to strangers, and I’m telling you to approach strangers and ask, ‘How can I help you?’” Maureen also teaches the Junior Volunteers about important job skills including being on time and effective communication. At this training session, Maureen also explains what Junior Volunteers do and the areas they’ll work in such as wayfinding, surgical supply, waiting room hospitality, ID, escorting patients to Operating Room check-in, and outpatient support. 

Advancing Superior Patient Outcomes, Strengthening Our Foundation

Fortune splits her time at the UVA Health Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center (ECCCC)  in the morning, and in outpatient clinics in the Battle Building in the afternoon. At ECCC, she supports the Flourish Boutique, a gift shop that sells and offers products for patients diagnosed with cancer. Fortune has been trained in how to communicate with patients and their families who are experiencing hardship. At Battle, she escorts patients and family members after an outpatient procedure.

The Junior Volunteer role has had an impact on Fortune. “I always knew I wanted to work in the medical field, but now I definitely want to work in a hospital,” she says. “The staff are all really nice, and it seems like everyone who works here wants to be here!” Fortune has enjoyed the program so much, she hopes to add more volunteer shifts before the summer ends.

Anja fulfills her Junior Volunteer duties in the UVA Health ID Badge Office providing administrative support. She has newfound appreciation thanks to this behind-the-scenes view. “I’ve learned so much about how hard the people in the ID Badge Office work, and how much they do for the hospital,” she says. Anja also works with the Welcome Team, helping patients and visitors find their way around the hospital.

She finds every Junior Volunteer moment counts. “It’s a great thing to do during the summer. Even just helping once a week makes a difference to so many people!”

Are you ready to share your UVA Health story of inspiring “Hope at Work”? Submit your interest to this form for consideration for a future installment in this Connect series.