Connect

Jennifer Greene, BSN, CCRC, has worked full-time for about a year as senior compliance manager in the UVA School of Medicine Clinical Trials Office while juggling a busy schedule as the mother of a teenager. As much as she loves both roles, Greene misses the patient interaction component of her previous position, working as a clinical research manager in gastroenterology and hepatology for a dozen years.

Greene is happy to report she's found that crucial connection at UVA Health — by volunteering several hours every other week as a "cuddler" in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The experience is full circle in other ways for Greene: “When I was a new graduate RN in pediatric oncology, I had to float to the NICU. I was assigned to a baby in withdrawal who cried a good portion of my shift. A wonderful cuddler came in and was so calm and just rocked this baby for several hours. The volunteer was such a blessing to the baby and myself that I wanted to be able to give back — and now I'm in a position to do so!"

And it's a bonus that "these little ones are super cute and snuggly," she adds.

Greene says the UVA Health University Medical Center Volunteer Services team has been very helpful in finding time for her to fit volunteering into her busy schedule.

Making a Difference

Greene is among 1,000 volunteers supported by the Volunteer Services team consisting of Maureen Oswald, Hannah Kaufman, LaDelle Gay, Annette Morgan, and Sally LeBeau. There are more than 70 different roles from which volunteers can choose.

Volunteer Services asks for a minimum, one-shift-a-week commitment of two to four hours, for at least six months. Many volunteer opportunities occur during weekdays, when Volunteer Services understands many UVA Health team members are busy working — but there are volunteer shifts available in the early morning (e.g., OR check-in at 5 a.m.) and in the evenings (e.g., reading to pediatric patients at bedtime).

If your weekdays and nights are full — no worries. There are weekend shifts available. For example, says the Volunteer Services team, the Emergency Department is open around the clock, so the ED offers volunteer roles from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, in the clinic and lobby. 

“We’re grateful for anyone and everyone who wants to make a difference,” says Gay.

Other volunteer roles include escort and wayfinders who walk patients, families, visitors, and more to their destinations. Volunteers also provide retail help in the Gift Shop, run by the Hospital Auxiliary — which, in turn, supports programs directly benefiting patients and their families such as Hospitality House, Pet Therapy, and more. In the Pet Therapy program — trained, registered dogs, and volunteer handlers bring comfort and stress relief to patients and families.

Around the holidays, volunteers are needed for events such as the Turkey Trot and to stuff handmade stockings that are delivered to each patient. 

Giving Back

Sadie Williams works as part of the Access Team at UVA Health Primary Care Center-Gynecology. She's also been volunteering a couple of hours a week as a pediatric beside visitor. "I really enjoy giving back," says Sadie. "Children are amazing at how resilient and strong they are. I also don’t think many people understand that volunteering is for the parents — just as much for the children. Being able to give them a moment to breathe or eat makes a difference."

Sadie says she benefits from volunteering by showing her own daughter that kindness and generosity cost nothing — but pay in such a rewarding way. Volunteering "is not about the amount of time you give, it’s about the amount of support you show. Cleaning a toy, or reading a book — maybe even just sitting with a child to let them know someone is there — helps in such a big way."

Indeed, Volunteer Services finds that science has proven that volunteering has many benefits — not just for individuals receiving comfort from the volunteer, but also for the volunteer who may experience reduced stress levels, lowered blood pressure, and increased dopamine release. The local community is enriched by volunteer efforts — while volunteers make social connections and feel fulfilled helping others.

Paying It Forward

As part of their onboarding — which is similar to the onboarding of UVA Health team members — UVA Health volunteers learn to embody our ASPIRE values of accountability, stewardship, professionalism, integrity, respect, and equity — perhaps especially "valuing everyone through our compassionate and caring ways."

Kaufman, herself a former UVA Health Junior Volunteer, now works on coordinating volunteer positions at UVA Health Children’s. "I'm so grateful for the mentorship and experience I had as a Junior Volunteer — I knew I wanted to pay it forward and help grow volunteer opportunities with UVA Health. It's been wonderful working with staff to expand volunteer programs for UVA Health Children’s," she says.

Junior Volunteers, for students ages 14 to 18, also falls under Volunteer Services. The eight-week program is managed by Oswald.

Ready to Sign Up?

So if you’re looking to give back as part of your New Year’s resolutions; meet new people; and help patients, families, visitors, team members, and more via volunteering, contact Volunteer Services at volunteerservices@uvahealth.org or 434.924.5251.

Cultivating Healthy Communities

And if you're looking for other places to give back, the team also promotes volunteer opportunities elsewhere in the Charlottesville and Albemarle County communities. "The area is rich with non-profit organizations that rely on volunteers to achieve their missions, so there is no shortage of ways to plug in and make a difference," says Gay. Check out the United Way of Greater Charlottesville's list of local organizations and current needs.