On Monday, June 3, Yuma Regional Medical Center (YRMC) Volunteer Services will recognize 28 volunteers who are celebrating high school and college graduations this year. The graduates have donated countless hours to YRMC and their community, dedicating their time and skillsets while gaining a better understanding of healthcare along the way.
The graduates have participated in numerous YRMC Volunteer programs, including Mentor Me MD, Healthcare Career Camp, the Kindness Project and Winter Workshop, all of which have shaped their healthcare career aspirations and knowledge of the healthcare industry.
“Of the 28 volunteers whose graduation we are celebrating, all are pursuing or are planning to pursue a career in healthcare,” says Elizabeth Hammonds, YRMC Director of Volunteer Services. “I truly believe volunteering introduces our youth to the possibilities in healthcare and ultimately helps them achieve their career goals.”
Some volunteers, like Sala Almuliki, enter the program unsure of their career goals, but after volunteering time in the hospital and participating in junior volunteer programs, they realize a healthcare career is in their future. Their experiences help shape perception of the healthcare field and narrow their focus for future career aspirations.
Sala began volunteering at YRMC in October 2022. She says she researched every career in healthcare as well as careers outside of medicine. She says her many opportunities during her volunteer journey at YRMC strongly influenced her decision to pursue nursing. Sala shadowed a Labor & Delivery nurse and witnessed her first birth, she facilitated a Healthcare Career Camp and was a mentee in the Mentor Me MD program.
Sala says, “I vividly remember during a Mentor Me MD session Dr. Galarza saying, ‘don’t do something because it’s easy or else you’ll never be satisfied.’ Which brought me back to healthcare. During the healthcare camp I realized the love I’d have for working in the medical field, even if it’d be a difficult route to get there.”
Sala, who graduated high school in May, says she plans to pursue a nursing degree from Arizona Western College.
A few programs volunteers participate in, include:
Mentor Me MD:
- Applicants work with a family medicine resident for mentorship, support, and guidance.
- Participate in community programs like flu shot clinics and sports coverage in Yuma.
Healthcare Career Camp
- More than 25 high school and college students participate.
- Includes hospital tours, classroom lectures, interactive activities, Q&A sessions, and shadowing healthcare professionals.
The Kindness Project
- Monthly volunteer activities spreading kindness in YRMC and the community.
- Activities include handing out flowers, leaving notes on cars, and fostering friendships.
Winter Workshop
- Mentor ME MD mentees participate in workshops during winter break.
- Explore pre-med educational paths, meet healthcare professionals, and view presentations.
- Learn about scholarship opportunities and self-care.
For more information about volunteering at YRMC or Volunteer Services programs, visit www.onvidahealth.org/community/volunteer-program/
