BIDMC Volunteer Recognition and Awards

Virginia Oliver

This award was established in 1996 in memory of Debby Henry, Volunteer Service Director from 1980 to 1995. It is awarded to an outstanding volunteer who has at least 5 years of service, a minimum of 500 hours and who best exemplifies the "Spirit of Volunteerism". This year's award goes to Ginny Oliver, a volunteer who exemplifies the heart and soul of BIDMC's Volunteer Services. Ginny has been a Eucharistic Minister with the Spiritual Care Department for 23 years, providing communion and prayer to BIDMC patients. She is known for her deep care for patients, her warmth, and her fervent commitment to attending to their spiritual needs. Staff members look forward to Thursdays when she volunteers, and are delighted to refer their patients to her. She has a special touch, and easily connects with patients, particularly those on the oncology units. We are so grateful for the many years that she has given so generously of her time and for the abundance of compassion, hope, and faith that she shares with our patients week after week.

Daniel Leary

The Ambassador award was established in 2004 to honor a volunteer who represents the medical center with a consistently positive attitude toward all patient, visitors and staff. Dan exemplifies this honor. He was one of the first volunteers to be selected for the newly launched ICU Transition Guide program. Dan jumped right into his complex role, which involves providing ICU patients with information and support as they are being transferred out of critical care and onto a standard inpatient floor. ICU nurses and unit coordinators often commented on Dan's friendly attitude and his determination to make a positive impact on the patient experience. As a result of his quick mastery of the responsibilities and his boundless enthusiasm for the project, he was selected to be the trainer and mentor to newly recruited volunteers, a role that he excelled in. He was also selected to present on the program at the New England Association Directors of Healthcare Volunteer Services' annual meeting. Dan was an outstanding ambassador of the program and of BIDMC and is highly deserving of this award.

Thu Huong

The Jack Arvedon Award, established in 2001, is given to a volunteer who has contributed a minimum of 100 hours, and shown the most flexibility, commitment and positive attitude over the year. This year's award goes to Thu Huong. Thu has served nearly 150 hours in just over a year, volunteering in several areas of the medical center. Primarily, Thu volunteers in Nuclear Medicine helping with a variety of administrative tasks. Her supervisor says, "Thu is a very conscientious volunteer who worked many hours for us and was always here until she finished all of her work and even more. She is a great volunteer, a definite team player, who always came to the office with a smile and good attitude, ready to work. She is a joy to have in the office." Thu is an exemplary volunteer, and Volunteer Services is so appreciative of her remarkable dedication and her willingness to go the extra mile.

Sonya Gelfand

This award was established in 2004 to formally acknowledge leadership and service by a volunteer 18 or under who has volunteered for at least 1 year, contributed a minimum of 100 hours and who exemplifies leadership skills as a model to other volunteers. This year's recipient is Sony Gelfand. Sonya first began volunteering in 2017 as a member of the Trudy and Al Summer Health Corps class. She was assigned to a Surgical Inpatient Unit (Stoneman 5), helping at the front desk by directing patient families, taking patient calls, organizing patient charts, and serving as a liaison between patients and their care team. Sonya also played an essential role volunteering with the Al & Trudy Summer Health Corps program. During the summer of 2019, Sonya came into the office nearly every day to assist with administrative tasks, tours, event assistance, and checking in on our 40 youth volunteers. She was a wonderful supporter of any students that needed guidance, advice, or even just a friend. Her generous gift of time and her passion for making the program a success were extraordinary. Over the winter of 2020, Sonya assisted in conducting interviews for the following summer. Sonya is an exceptional young woman, and we are delighted to recognize her with this year's Youth Leadership Award.

Ariel Greenberg and Zachary Lederman

This year's Evening Stars, Weekend Wonders award goes to Ariel Greenberg (left) and Zachary Lederman (right). Established in 2009, this award is given each year to one or more volunteers who have displayed commitment and a positive attitude to "shine a light" on patients during the evening and weekend hours. Ariel and Zack, both students at Maimonides High School in Brookline, volunteer on Sunday mornings in the role of book cart ambassador on both the east and west campuses. Ariel and Zack deliver the Sunday newspaper, books, magazines, crossword puzzles, and other enjoyments and distractions to patients. They brighten the day of all they visit. Patients consistently comment on how wonderful it is to have the Sunday newspaper delivered to them. We are so fortunate to have Zack and Ariel volunteer at BIDMC and we are incredibly pleased to recognize them both with this year's Evening Stars, Weekend Wonders Award.

Revonda Mehovic

The Rose award was established in 2004 in honor of Rose Finkelstein, and is given annually to an outstanding volunteer who has served for at least 5 years and whose role involves helping new mother and /or newborn. This year's Rose award is given to Revonda Mehovic. Revonda began as a mentor with the Parent Connection in March of 2014 and since that time has supported so many first time parents in the often overwhelming experience of leaving the medical center's postpartum units and adjusting to life at home with baby. One new mom said of Revonda: "Revonda was warm, and a great listener, even to my most trivial questions or concerns. She was never judgmental and just a great support. Thank you so much Revonda, for helping me through such a challenging time!" Revonda's warmth, kindness and genuine caring are qualities that have made such a positive impact on the families she has served. Revonda also provides newer mentors, support, guidance and reassurance that while they might not always hear it directly, their efforts really do make a difference.

Alex Chou and Charles Ma

Volunteer Services is delighted to present Alex Chou (top image) and Charles Ma (bottom image) with this year's Special Recognition award. Over the past year, Alex and Charles, friends and students at Boston Latin Academy, have volunteered each Friday after school. Alex is a book cart volunteer, and Charles is a Unit Helper on our OB postpartum and antepartum units. Dependable, motivated, and always positive, they have always been willing to go above and beyond to assist patients and staff members. They show up for every volunteer shift with a wonderful attitude and big smile.

It is never easy jumping into a new situation and work environment, particularly when asked to assist patients who could be going through a difficult time, but both of these volunteers have never hesitated, and took to their roles instantly. Their maturity and reliability has enabled them both to be entrusted to work independently in clinical areas, and we can always be assured that by the end of their shifts, they will have left a positive impression on our patients and staff members. We are so appreciative of their commitment to excellence in patient care.

Fabrice Jacques

The Agress Summer Health Corps Special Recognition Award was established in 2019, the year that the Agress family gave a generous gift to BIDMC to support the Summer Health Corps. The program was renamed in honor Al and Trudy Agress, who served as BIDMC volunteers for over 50 years. This award acknowledges a Summer Health Corps volunteer who exemplifies the characteristics for which BIDMC remembers Mr. and Mrs. Agress: punctual weekly attendance; devotion to the mission of the hospital and its core values of integrity, respect, compassion, excellence, and stewardship; flexibility and determination regarding tasks and deadlines.

At the final celebration of the 2019 Agress Summer Health Corps, we were delighted to present the first ever Special Recognition Award to Fabrice Jacques. From day one, Fabrice impressed every member of the staff with his upbeat and outgoing nature, his impeccable manners, his maturity, and his constant enthusiasm to lend a hand. As an Ambassador, he greeted each and every individual with warmth and a bright smile and assured them that he would help them get to where they needed to go. Fabrice epitomized BIDMC's culture of respect, treating every patient, visitors, and staff member with the highest level of dignity. His colleagues and manager were so impressed that they often contacted Volunteer Services to share yet another example of how Fabrice had gone above and beyond during the course of his duties. For the impeccable dependability, competence, and consistently positive attitude that Fabrice displayed each day, it gives Volunteer Services and the Agress family great joy that his name will be the first to adorn a perpetual plaque honoring Mr. and Mrs. Agress.

John Flynn
Howard Lipsky

Stephanie Anderson
Brenda Helies

Amy Magnus
Carmen Whyte

Boris Kustonovich

Donald Wilhelm

John Flynn