UAMS’ Volunteers Honored at Luncheon

By ChaseYavondaC

Roxane Townsend, M.D., UAMS Medical Center CEO, speaks with hospital volunteers at April's luncheon.

Roxane Townsend, M.D., UAMS Medical Center CEO, speaks with hospital volunteers at April’s luncheon.

The volunteers were the focal point of the UAMS Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon hosted by the UAMS Department of Volunteer Services and UAMS Medical Center Auxiliary.

Three-hundred and ninety-seven volunteers provided service in 59 different programs and 12 special events from February 2014 to February 2015. Translated into dollars, the volunteers provided more than $1.4 million in services for UAMS.

“What is so special about our volunteers is you do not just serve willingly, but you do it joyfully,” said Roxane Townsend, M.D., UAMS Medical Center CEO. “I think you realize the difference you all make in other people’s lives.”

Three awards were given at the luncheon. The honorees were as follows:

  • Edith Bowman, UAMS Medical Center Volunteer Distinguished Service Award
  • Staff of E4 ICU, UAMS Medical Center Volunteer Supervisor of the Year
  • Betty Moore, UAMS Medical Center Connie Ratcliff Volunteer of the Year
Melissa Fontaine, UAMS' chief operating officer, presents volunteer Edith Bowman with the UAMS Medical Center Volunteer Distinguished Service Award.

Melissa Fontaine, UAMS’ chief operating officer, presents volunteer Edith Bowman with the UAMS Medical Center Volunteer Distinguished Service Award.

“You all are priceless to us and we hope we do a good job of portraying that every day,” said Erin Gray, director of volunteer services and the auxiliary. “This luncheon is just a small token of how much we appreciate what you do.”

Gray said the volunteer program needed twice as manyvolunteers, and encouraged the crowd to look for possible UAMS volunteers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary Helen Forrest, UAMS chief nursing officer, presents the staff of E4 ICU with the UAMS Medical Center Volunteer Supervisor of the Year Award.

Mary Helen Forrest, UAMS chief nursing officer, presents the staff of E4 ICU with the UAMS Medical Center Volunteer Supervisor of the Year Award.