“I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon’s knife or the chemist’s drug.” – Louis Lasagna, 1964, Modern version of the Hippocratic Oath Compared to medicine as was practiced in the era of Ancient Greece, modern medicine is far more … Continue reading “The Art of Medicine”
The Little Moments
Coming into the Ascend Hospice program, I was a naïve young woman who has not had much experience in dealing with death, so I was not sure what to expect. After a year of volunteering, although I am still young, I can say that I am a little less naïve, and there are definitely a … Continue reading “The Little Moments”
A Journey of Understanding
Prior to being a part of Hospice work, I did not know anything about the background of death and dying. It was a topic that simply came and went as quickly as life itself. After the very first time of meeting my patient, tears rolled down my face when I was in the comfort of … Continue reading “A Journey of Understanding”
Health & Hospice Thoughts
I can summarize the entirety of my hospice experience by saying this: hospice is here to stay. Before the program, I read a book that estimated the number of Americans getting to that special age of 65 at about 7800 a day; the more recent estimates I’ve seen have that figure closer to 10,000. With … Continue reading “Health & Hospice Thoughts”
Silent Company
Throughout my time at hospice, there were a couple patients that really stood out to me. One of these was an elderly woman with whom I was never able to have a real conversation. She always was in a wheelchair, pedaling her way between her room and the end of the hall. Toward the beginning … Continue reading “Silent Company”
Because I could not stop for Death
“Because I could not stop for Death – He kindly stopped for me – The Carriage help but just Ourselves – And Immortality.” -Emily Dickinson This classic Dickinson poem resonates with me and my experiences in the Pre-Med Hospice Volunteering experience this past year. Before participating in this program and being educated about death and … Continue reading “Because I could not stop for Death”
Rekindling Light
My entire view of the healthcare field has done a complete 180 degree spin. I’ve always had a drastic fear of death for my loved ones especially in the hands of healthcare professionals. As much as I have always wanted to become a doctor, I have always been rather worried in regard to the quality … Continue reading “Rekindling Light”
My Brush with Death
Throughout my life, I have always been a stranger to death. I’d always seen or heard about it in the media, but I never felt it myself. I had never known or encountered someone who I have been close to who has died. Perhaps the most related incident I have with death is with my … Continue reading “My Brush with Death”
The Experience that Confirmed My Helpfulness
For this paper, I decided to write about my most important experience I had during the program. When I first started off volunteering, my patient was not very talkative but she would respond when I asked her questions and she would look at me, greet me, and smile while I was there. Our conversations pretty … Continue reading “The Experience that Confirmed My Helpfulness”
Self Growth Through Hospice Volunteering
The Pre-Medical Hospice Program has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have had as a pre-medical student. It is easy to get bogged down by the classes and the technical aspects of getting into medical school. I feel like often as a pre-medical student people lose sight of what is important. They forget … Continue reading “Self Growth Through Hospice Volunteering”