Athena Institute Funds Hospice Volunteer Project for Pre-med Students
Originally launched in 2007, Athena Institute is pleased to announce the updated hospice program and new collaboration established June 2011.
The Pre-Med Hospice Volunteer Program
coordinated by the
Home Care Network, Hospice and Palliative Care,
and the Middleton Center-Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church
under a grant from Athena Institute for Women's Wellness
A recent note from the Director of the Middleton Center, Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, Rev. Joyce Krajian, October 2011:
"Dear Winnifred, We're off and running. We interviewed 18 candidates for the program, and accepted 15 students - 7 from Bryn Mawr, 5 from Haverford, and 3 from Swarthmore. I would like to invite you to meet them the during the hospice volunteer training...Some of the students had done research on Athena Institute and came to the interview with questions about you and your work. I know they will all be pleased to get to know you...Michelle is set for the trainings. Louisa and I have outlined the program for the year, including the reflection sessions and potentially producing a documentary on the spirituality (an interfaith view) of death and dying. Thank you so much for the opportunity to be involved in this wonderful work! Our mighty team of 3 is having a great time."
Dr. Winnifred Cutler, President and Founder of Athena Institute for Women's Wellness, announced a substantial grant for 2007-2012 to continue the program now established as The Pre Med Hospice Volunteer Program. The program aims to encourage area pre-med students to volunteer services to local hospice patients.
Reconfigured in June 2011, the program partnership has benefited immensely from the tremendous, continuing efforts and enthusiasm of the Reverend Joyce Krajian, Director of the Middleton Center at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, Reverend Louisa Watkins Umphres, Pastoral Resident, BMPC, and Ms. Michelle Whipple, Hospice Volunteer Director at Main Line Health of Jefferson University Hospitals.
The program coordinators successfully generate an outreach to area colleges and hospice organizations to ignite interest from; college pre-health coordinators, hospice chaplains, and of course - the students. In October 2011, the program coordinators interviewed and accepted 18 students (from Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore Colleges) to the hospice program. The letter to students applying explains;
"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".
*Scroll Down to Read Dr. Cutler's Progress Reports from past results
Dr. Cutler explains,
"The goal of the project is in keeping with Athena Institute's mission of working to improve the quality of healthcare for women - and to instill in pre-med students a sense of humanity and understanding towards the geriatric patient and 'end-of-life' care through hospice service."
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 analyzes students reports on their experiences (protecting the patients' privacy, of course) and Dr. Cutler may publish her analysis findings to appropriate scientific/medical audiences or venues. Dr. Cutler emphasizes,
"The church is facilitating connections through local college advisors and students with existing hospice organizations. But the church will have no responsibilities or involvement in Athena's subsequent research activities or scientific analysis I might base on student reports. And the project also links nicely with our medical school admission guide created by a wonderful former intern at Athena, Ms. Suzie Smith, called Searching for Admission."
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.
First Progress Report from Dr. Cutler:" I was quite pleased overall with the enthusiasm shown for our project by the 24 original students who signed-up, and quite satisfied that 12 finished the program and that several volunteers would like to repeat their involvement in their next college year. The interest shown by local colleges was very encouraging. The expected difficulties were the logistics of college students without cars, and schedule conflicts among: the college courses, the hospice staffing schedules, availability of the official hospice trainers, and the availability (and viability) of the hospice patients the student volunteers were to care for. At least one of the student’s assigned hospice patient died before they even met. Several volunteers attended memorial services of hospice patients.
As depicted in our “ideagram”, four institutions had to be coordinated somehow: Athena Institute, the church, the hospital hospice, and the college attended by the individual pre-med student volunteer. Not so easy.
Both Interim Pastors did an admirable job after a slow start. And Michele Whipple, an employee of Jefferson Hospital Hospice—and also a church member—did a fine job as trainer for the volunteers. One great suggestion by a student was: add a mock role- playing session for interactions among student, patient and family members in different caregiving scenarios. We’ll add that to our ideagram for the next trial run.
We have received ten written reports by the volunteers who agreed that their data could be studied, analyzed and reported on. Clearly, there are glitches to be ironed out as we improve the program. But my view is that the participating local colleges now know us and appreciate the caliber of the program and the church managers, as well as Jefferson Hospital Hospice quality control and professionalism. Each institution has responsibility for its services and decisions and reputation.
While there were indeed logistical disconnects, many of the comments were very favorable:
1. “I cannot even express how empowered I feel as a result. We are only students, yet we are able to provide something so precious and meaningful to the lives of those who need it most… no matter if they live for one more day or five more years. At some point, we will be doctors and I will take that same mind--set with me.”
2. “I feel more comfortable in assuming the role of a caretaker of a patient. I think this has helped develop my sense of what kind of responsibilities health professionals have and what roles I would like to take on in my future career.”
3. “I have learned that I am much more sensitive to the idea of death. It is something that is difficult to face, but I feel that this hospice opportunity has supplied me with a more humanitarian way of approaching individuals, their sickness, their family, and their well-being.”
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. "
Winnifred Cutler, Ph.D.
Founder of Athena Institute for Women's Wellness
*Athena Institute previously awarded a hospice research grant to the Ohio Presbyterian Church in 2006.