• MCH Foundation
• Support & Advocacy

  PRINT       E-MAIL TO A FRIEND

Miami Children's Hospital is blessed with many outstanding volunteers. Here you can meet a few of our dedicated volunteers.

Patient Access/Admitting

The Community and Volunteer Resource Department (CVR) currently has six volunteers placed in Patient Access/Admitting.  Volunteers assist the staff by greeting parents and patients, answering the telephones, escorting patients to other areas in the hospital, scanning materials and other assisting in other clerical tasks. Teen volunteer, Andrew Tablante, has been a volunteer since June 2007, and has over 175 hours of service.  To fulfill his graduation requirement of performing community hours, Andrew received encouragement to volunteer at MCH from his sister, who had volunteered previously, and his mother, an MCH nurse practitioner.

"I like volunteering in Admitting because I enjoy the interaction with patients, families, and staff, and the opportunity to help others," Andrew said.  In the future, Andrew would like to become a firefighter, and feels it is productive for him to be in a hospital environment. Kristofer Rato, Patient Access Rep. III, commented: "Andrew is a true asset to this department. He is excellent with us and is always willing to do everything and anything. Andrew really is a big help to us on Tuesdays, and we are glad he is one of our volunteers." Andrew enjoys sports and going to the beach. Upon graduation, Andrew hopes to attend the University of Central Florida. We are grateful to have Andrew Tablante in our volunteer program and look forward to his continuing participation until graduation.

Medical Library Volunteers

The Community and Volunteer Resource Department (CVR) is staffing the Medical Library with five volunteers.  They help distribute and collect lap tops for families, make copies of journal articles, shelve books, and perform other clerical tasks as needed. “Volunteers make a difference,” said Tatiana Consuegra, Library Assistant.  “They help with all our clerical work, assist with decorations when we need them, and make our jobs easier."

Frank Garcia, a teen volunteer, has been volunteering for the past three years at the suggestion of his mother, an MCH employee. Frank has met his graduation requirement of completing his community hours, but chooses to continue volunteering. He believes that the Library staff is very nice and feels like part of the MCH team. Volunteering in the Library has been a great learning experience for him because he spends time looking up information in journals and making copies of articles for doctors and residents.  Frank is active in various clubs at South Miami High School, including the key club, interact, and drama. He is deciding whether to major in philosophy or screenplay/film studies. Frank has been a consistent, reliable, and dedicated volunteer. CVR is grateful he has chosen to volunteer at Miami Children's Hospital.

The Community and Volunteer Resource Department (CVR) currently has eight volunteers placed in the Same Day Surgery department  These volunteers have multiple duties of helping with clerical tasks, escorting parents to Recovery, transporting beds from post op to pre op, and interacting with patients and parents. 

 "All the volunteers are great, they are very helpful, and make our job a little easier," said Jannette Martinez, RN.  One of the volunteers, Carlos Velarde, is enjoying his time at MCH. "I find it is a great learning experience, and it is truly wonderful to be able to interact with children," Carlos explained.  He is an Florida International University student and is hoping to go into the pre-med program. He enjoys the positive feedback he receives from his interaction with families and staff.  Carlos also serves as a translator when talking to families.  Carlos feels that he is an integral part of the MCH team. "What I like best about MCH, is that it is so family oriented, and the families are quick to say what a good experience they are having here," he said.

 When studying does not occupy all of Carlos’ time, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing the piano, and participating in sports. We are all looking forward to having Carlos continue to volunteer his time at MCH and with Same Day Surgery.

Several months ago, Lucy Morillo, Miami Children's Hospital Foundation President, met with Director Lynn Heyman, in an effort to have the Foundation staff become more involved in the hospital on a personal basis. It was agreed that the staff would volunteer every Wednesday morning on the Volunteer Hospitality Cart, and have an opportunity to meet the families.  The Community and Volunteer Resource Department has coordinated this great service for over 25 years.  Food and Nutrition provide the coffee, pastries and condiments, and then a team of volunteers delivers it to the families.  This is a service that demonstrates to parents and families how much we care about them and their well being.  It is also gratifying to the volunteers because parents are so appreciative.

The Miami Children's Hospital Foundation (MCHF) staff volunteers every Wednesday morning for three hours, rotating their staff on a weekly  basis.  The staff is finding volunteering a wonderful experience, because they are offering a service that is so welcomed by the parents. Many parents who have spent an anxious night worrying about their child, are delighted to wake up and have someone with a smile on their face, offering them coffee, without them having to leave their room.

JoAnne Bogdon-Diaz, Administrative Assistant , comments that "volunteering on the Hospitality Cart gives me a good feeling, knowing I am able to offer some small measure of comfort, and know how grateful parents are for this service."  Alexandra Salcedo, Annual Fund Director, states, "It is a good experience working on the Hospitality Cart, and so different from raising money. Volunteering with the Cart allows us to actually be in an atmosphere with families and patients, and to see how receptive the parents are and how much they love this service! It has truly opened our eyes to new situations and surroundings."

We welcome this opportunity for the MCHF staff to participate in our volunteer program and experience how beneficial it is to everyone!  We thank the following MCHF staff for their participation:

John Czelusniak, Sofia Durkee, Victor Fernandez, Jamie Holt, Meschelle Huether, Ivett Iglesias,Maria Ingelmo, Karla Jones, Connie Kazanjian, Ann Lyons, Merlyn Marenco, Barbara Marti, Maria Moldes, Jarenys Montaner, Lucy Morillo, Richard Perez, Harold Robaina, Glenda Saez, and Alexandra Salcedo. Thank you everyone!

Anna Panaro has been volunteering with our Comfort Crew since 2006. Anna is a licensed massage therapist who volunteers once a week, providing a chair massage to parents.  Feedback from both parents and staff has been extremely favorable, and Anna's hard work does much to alievate the stres and anxiety that parents are experiencing.

Anna moved to Florida from New York, and began teaching Acting. For the past 33 years, Anna has been teaching acting and screen writing, and operates the Panaro Workshop Theatre Company, Inc.on Miami Beach. In addition to teaching, Anna is also the secretary to the Pastor of her church.

About three years ago, Anna decided to go to Massage Therapy School. At MCH, Anna comes in on a weekly basis, and provides massage thereapy. "I look forward to coming to MCH every week, as I believe I get more out of it than the parents." Anna always has a smile, and with her calm demeanor, has been a very valuable assset to MCH. She derives great joy from being at the hospital, and is grateful the Community and Volunteer Resource Department provides thsi service.

Anna's leisure time is spent going to dinner and a movie, but her happiest times are spent at MCH-which makes us happy too. 

Teen volunteer Katy Patao has been at MCH since May of 2006, and volunteers at the Nurses Station on 3 East. To date, Katy has 150 hours of volunteer service, and loves her work on 3 East.

Katy attends Lourdes Academy and is looking forward to career in either the medical field, or Human Resources. Upon graduation, Katie would like to attend a college in New England, preferrably  Amhurst in Massachusetts.  At Lourdes, Kay is busy with the National honor Society,Math Honor Society, is President of the Life Club, and is active in the Care Club(breast cancer awareness).

"No matter how bad or stressful my day is, volunteering at Miami Children's Hospital is my stress reliever."  When I graduate I will be very sad to leave, as this hospital is the best environment ever," Katy comments.  Katy has formed great bonds with the nurses, and says they are all very friendly and nice, and welcomed her right away.  The responses she has received from parents after spending time with the children and their families, has always been very positive, and she feels very appreciated.

Katy began volunteering because of the hospital's great reputation, and plans on continuing with her volunteer work until she graduates.  For now, we are very pleased Katy is here and part of our great MCH team.

Volunteer Cristina Milian has been at MCH for nearly three years.  She attends FIU and will major in Nursing.  Being assigned to the 3NE nurses station, has re-enforced her realization that this is the career she has been looking for.  Cristina originally had planned on being a physician, but after working with the nurses, knew that nursing was the right profession for her to follow.

Cristina is active in several sororities at FIU, and will graduate in 2008.  She finds volunteering very satisfactory, and feels both parents and staff are grateful and appreciate of her assistance.  Cristina loves seeing a child smile, and is happy to know she is responsible for making this happen.

The staff on 3NE stated that Cristina is always smiling, is a hard worker, and they feel very fortunate to have her on their unit. We know how dependable and reliable Cristina is, as she has nearly 400 hours of volunteer service. We can always count on her willingness to come in and give us extra hours, and we are extremely pleased Cristina Milian is part of our MCH team.