Student Volunteer Logs 1,114 Volunteer Hours
David Britton has spent a lot of time at Gottlieb—first accompanying his grandmother to her doctor’s appointments and now also as a student volunteer. The 14-year-old freshman at West Leyden High School in Northlake recently was honored for accumulating an unprecedented 1,114 hours as a student volunteer at Gottlieb. He, along with 54 student volunteers and their parents, attended a special luncheon on August 16 and received commemorative pins and gift certificates.
David started volunteering at the hospital in 2005 when he was 12. “David is a real go-getter,” said Lucille Gorney, coordinator of Volunteer Services. “Most student volunteers participate just during the summer because they have school and afternoon activities; but David comes to the hospital year ‘round.”
He has already made up his mind that he is going to medical school and plans to become an anesthesiologist. “My grandma had a lot of operations here at Gottlieb and I would go with her,” he said. “The anesthesiologist always talked to me and answered my questions.”
David primarily volunteers in the Radiology Department, where he was nominated for an internal award. In the award nomination form, it said “David is constantly providing our department with professionalism. He is kind to patients when transporting them from the outpatient desk into the main department. His attitude each day provides each employee with an example of how to treat other individuals.”
In Radiology, David is an expert in the new picture archiving and communications system (PACS) – he would digitalize film from the system and turn it into CD’s for the patients. “He is a very smart boy, very knowledgeable for his age,” said Maria Medina, receptionist and file clerk, Radiology. David also helps with filing and transporting patients.
Of the many lessons and skills David has learned during his volunteerism, he says making the decision to be an anesthesiologist is the one he values most. “I knew I wanted to be a doctor, but wasn’t sure what area to specialize in. Now I know,” he said. He says he likes to volunteer and plans to continue his year-round schedule until he graduates from high school. “I always learn something new and the people I work with are very nice and helpful,” he said. “The more I volunteer, the better prepared I will be for a career in medicine.”
The program had 55 student volunteers this summer – an all-time high. “It is becoming a common requirement for college students in health care fields to serve documented hospital time to earn their degrees,” said Lucille of the increase in program participation. “There are also more families with both parents working and teens who aren’t yet 16 need something to do when school is out.”
Other top honorees were:Nouran Alsabagh, 21 of Melrose Park, a fifth-year volunteer worked 554 accumulated hours.Carmina Rodriguez, 16 of Addison, a fifth-year volunteer worked 500 accumulated hours.Victoria Pena, 14 of Glendale Heights, a second-year volunteer worked 364 accumulated hours.George Rafidi, 16 of Oak Forest, a second-year volunteer worked 326 accumulated hours.David Nesheim, 23 of River Grove, a second-year volunteer worked 212 accumulated hours.