School: Villanova

During my time volunteering with hospice, I formed a particularly meaningful relationship with one of the patients that I got the pleasure of spending time with, an older man with progressive Parkinson’s disease. One of the most profound moments I shared with this patient was when he finally opened up to me after not seeming … Continue reading “Finding Meaning in the Final Moments: Lessons from Hospice Care”

I believe this program has allowed me to grow in my understanding of palliative care. I am extremely grateful to have been able to participate in the Athena Hospice Volunteer program. Before entering the program, I had no exposure to nursing homes or the world of palliative care. I have not had any family members … Continue reading “Reflection on Hospice Care”

Concluding my volunteer experience is a reflective moment for me. When I began this journey, I was anxious, even with my past experiences working at senior homes throughout high school. I had never worked in hospice care, and this experience required higher levels of compassion, understanding, and patience. Throughout my time here, I have encountered … Continue reading “Reflection on Hospice Volunteer Experience”

Even though I am no longer planning on working in direct patient care, I find great value in my experiences this year in hospice care. Many of the skills I have learned from this experience have accumulated with each visit I made. Whatever path I choose, these values and skills will be at the forefront … Continue reading “My Growth in Healthcare”

I first met Peter who was a patient suffering from Parkinson’s Disease back in September. The first time I met Peter, I had extreme difficulty speaking to him and understanding the words he spoke. I remember, right after that visit, I had utterly convinced myself that Peter would be a difficult patient to visit and … Continue reading “Time Is A Gift”

Before I had even returned to school, I had instilled the idea of the “two unfixables” – these being, according to Atul Gawande, aging and dying – into my mind. I knew that signing up to be a hospice volunteer would place onto me heavy responsibilities, one of them being to accept the prevalence of … Continue reading “Looking the Inevitable in the Eyes”

As we played Evening Bells for “Jane”, I could see it touch her soul in a way words could not express, and tears begin to fall. “Jane”, in her late 90s, has a quiet strength and a deep love for music, particularly opera. Evening Bells is her favorite song—a piece that reminds her of simpler, … Continue reading “Moments of Grace”

Becoming a volunteer through the Athena Institute Pre-Med Hospice Volunteer program has greatly shaped my approach to patient care as well as life in general. By meeting with hospice patients at a local nursing home, I have learned much from their experiences and have gained so many new perspectives. In the assignments and the reflection … Continue reading “An Eternal Experience”

“John” was the first patient we met at the hospice center. On our first day, we were heading to meet the floor staff when we spotted “John” taking a stroll nearby. The staff introduced us to him, and he turned out to be a very energetic and lively man. He shared that he went boxing … Continue reading “Empathy and Gratitude Learned from Others”