Dedicated volunteers and future health care pros a team
Friends Mohammad Mohammad and Ivan Ruvinov are both dedicated volunteers of the Operating Room Patient Liaison Program at Windsor Regional Hospital.
As university students studying the sciences, they are excited about their future career goals in health care. Mohammad is interested in dentistry or orthodontics. Ivan is working towards becoming a family physician and opening his own practice.
“What I like most about volunteering is being able to help other people feel more comfortable and at ease. There’s nothing more rewarding than being able to witness first-hand the gratitude expressed by those who I help, even when it’s for something small and may seem insignificant,” says Ivan.
Volunteering can provide different learning opportunities for students. Mohammed has trained many new volunteers on the duties of the position and covered many different shifts, interacting with different physicians.
“I like that I’m placed in situations that force me to step out of my comfort zone and, by doing so, allow me to obtain new skills that may be useful for future careers,” says Mohammad.
Ivan adds, “One of my favourite things from my experience as a volunteer at WRH is the amazing staff – from the most caring and understanding volunteer coordinators to the nicest and funniest nurses and doctors; everyone makes their appreciation of the assistance we provide genuinely clear, and at the end of the day, that’s what matters most – helping our community.”
Volunteering at WRH can help volunteers gain knowledge of the hospital system. Mohammad and Ivan have experienced the busy environment of the OR and interacted with the numerous professional staff that provide surgical services.
“I like the operation and efficiency of the hospital because everyone works as a team to provide the patients with a better experience while maintaining a smile,” says Mohammad.
He and Ivan have encouraged many of their friends to volunteer in the operating room and other departments at WRH.
“I would tell anyone considering becoming at WRH volunteer that it’s a great way to learn new skills and gain experience in the medical field. Additionally, I’ve really enjoyed my time at the hospital and met a lot of new people that have made my experience very memorable,” says Mohammad.
Mohammad and Ivan’s compassion for the families and patients at WRH supports its mission of ‘Outstanding Care-No Exceptions!’