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★ ★ ★ Salute to ★
★
★
★ ★ Volunteers ★ ★

WEST BOCA MEDICAL CENTER ST. MARY’S MEDICAL CENTER

Valerie Aalo Carly Cook

For the past four years, Valerie Aalo has been volun- For the past year, Carly Cook has been volunteering at
teering her time at West Boca Medical Center. She start- St. Mary’s Medical Center. Carly initially worked in the
ed as a member of the volunteen program. Valerie vol- Child Life department, but now uses her time to volun-
unteers in several places around the hospital, including teer in human resources, and is currently the editor-in-
the BirthCare Pavilion, nursery, dispatch and the surgi- chief of the Volunteer Newsletter. Her next goal is to vol-
cal waiting room. Her hope is to one day be a unteer in the pediatric emergency department. Carly is
Perinatologist, and she is currently enrolled at Florida currently a student at the FAU Harriet L. Wilkes Honors
Atlantic University majoring in neuroscience and College in Jupiter studying to become a doctor. She feels
behavior, with a minor in women’s studies. Valerie cred- volunteering gives her an opportunity to get immediate
its her time at West Boca to being able to better under- hands on experience in the healthcare field. Carly says
stand what it will take to work in the medical field. Valerie says she loves volunteer- her favorite part of volunteering is being able to interact
ing, but what makes her experience most memorable, is when she gets to see smiles and interview former patients and staff for the newsletter. She’s fascinated hearing
on the patient’s faces that she helps care for. Valerie says West Boca is a special place about the different experiences each patient has had. Carly finds St. Mary’s to be a
because the hospital makes the volunteer experience mutually beneficial for both the warm and welcoming environment which is the main reason why she loves volunteer-
volunteer and the hospital. As Valerie says, “There’s always room for us to grow.” ing so much.

Christine Fabella Mikaila Cartwright

While new to volunteering at West Boca Medical As one of the newest additions to the volunteer pro-
Center, Christine Fabella is excited to be a part of the gram at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Mikaila Cartwright
West Boca volunteer team. Christine volunteers in the wants to focus on all the people she encounters as a vol-
surgical waiting room, and was looking for an opportu- unteer in the St. Mary’s human resources department.
nity to stay active when she retired in 2016. She has This senior in high school plans to attend the University
exceeded her expectations. Christine loves helping the of Florida and major in computer engineering. Mikaila
families of patients who are having surgery by being a says in the short time she’s been at the hospital, it’s
liaison and keeping them informed during the surgery helped her become more understanding and patient. She
process. Prior to her time volunteering, Christine was a feels whenever she’s volunteering, she’s acquiring new
registered nurse, so when she retired, working in a hospital was a natural fit and gives skills. Mikaila’s most memorable experience so far was
her a perspective that other volunteers may not have. Christine lists her most memo- the opportunity to design the flyer for the St. Baldrick’s Pediatric Cancer Research
rable experience as being named volunteer of the month in the employee newsletter. fundraiser.

Celebrating National Healthcare

APRIL
Volunteer Week
15 21 Thank you volunteers and the entire Jupiter Medical Center Auxiliary for putting your
to

hearts into everything you do for our patients, the medical center and our community!
From all of us at Jupiter Medical Center.

Learn more at jupitermed.com/volunteering

1210 S. Old Dixie Hwy. l Jupiter, FL 33458

South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com April 2018 21