Athena Institute Funds Hospice Volunteer Program
for Pre-med Students
Click IDEAGRAM here
to see full size
The overall mission of the Athena Institute Pre-Med Hospice Volunteer Program has been; to instill in pre-med students a sense of humanity and understanding towards the geriatric patient and 'end-of-life' care through hospice service... and to provide patients an opportunity to educate these young students in how to listen to their needs.
*Read the 2013 Program Graduates' REFLECTION ESSAYS* (click here)
Launched in 2007, the Athena Institute Pre-Med Hospice Volunteer Program updated its program collaboration in 2011, and continues to evolve and improve ... expanding its reach each year.
Dr. Winnifred Cutler, President and Founder of Athena Institute for Women's Wellness, explains;
"Athena Institute believes that this grant and program will help inspire students to choose geriatric medicine as their field, a specialty that is presently underserved.
As presented in our Ideagram, the benefits are cascading; Pre-med students experience the care and services provided by hospices; in turn hospices and their patients benefit from the students' help, and the church benefits from its local outreach into colleges.
Athena Institute truly appreciates the willingness of the individuals and the institutions to participate in our program to help instill in future physicians the humanity and spirituality in end-of-life caregiving"
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The Athena Institute Pre-Med Hospice Volunteer Program is coordinated by the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, under a grant from Athena Institute for Women's Wellness, with outreach to hospice institutions and area universities.
The Program Director, Reverend Graham Robinson (2011 to current) was introduced to the program by Reverend Charles Grant, Bryn Mawr Presbyterian, and brings his exceptional education and spiritual leadership background; Master of Theology 1999, Master of Div. 1993, Princeton Theological Seminary, and twenty years of pastoral care and teaching experience.
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The program coordinators successfully generate the outreach to, and interest from; college pre-health coordinators, hospice chaplains, and of course... the pre-med students. Applying students are told;
"Your participation will make a difference to hospice patients, their families, and the hospice team. Through exposure to the humanity, spirituality, and well being of end of life patients, you will gain experience, understanding, and distinctive credentials for your medical school applications".
Recent program sessions have interviewed and accepted 16-18 student applicants from Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore colleges.
- Interested students please contact Rev. Graham Robinson:
- Please Read the Program Graduates' REFLECTION ESSAYS (click here)
- Please Read the History of the program by year (click here)