It’s National Volunteer Week and we can’t think of a more fitting time for Vancouver Resources – Vancouver Acute and Residential Care – to announce the recipients of our 2014 Student Volunteer Awards.

We’re fortunate to have 800 active volunteers working in six acute and residential facilities in Vancouver.  Roughly 70% of those volunteers are students.  Each year, a prize of $500 is offered to each of four student volunteers.  In March, thirty-one applicants wrote a short essay describing their volunteer experiences, and sharing the insights they gained through those experiences.  The selection committee chose four outstanding volunteers.

James Cairns plans to study neurodegenerative diseases

James Cairns plans to study the pathology, etiology and potential therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, and has volunteered at the Banfield Pavilion since September 2011.  His volunteer experience helped him to gain, “…a better appreciation for being a member of a team in a fast-paced healthcare environment.”

Kyle Huang says volunteering taught him more than he expected

Kyle Huang is an undergraduate studying genetic and molecular biology.  He has volunteered in a wide range of roles at both UBC Hospital and VGH.  Kyle says that his work has, “…taught me a lot more than I have expected and has given me a great experience working with health care professionals, patients and their families and friends.”

Jay Chi’s studies include osteoporosis bone-resorption drugs

Jay Chi has worked as a volunteer at George Pearson, UBC Hospital and VGH.  He will complete his BSc next year and is working on a thesis on osteoporosis bone-resorption drugs.  His time at VGH has allowed him to, “…understand the inner workings of one of the largest hospitals in Canada.”

Henry Lai  says volunteering stimulated his interest in rehab research

Henry Lai is studying physiology and kinesiology.  Over the past three years, he has worked 755 volunteer hours at GF Strong.  His experience there has had a profound effect on his development.  “Seeing patients in wheelchairs stimulated my interest in rehabilitation research, which inspired me to volunteer in a pre-clinical, spinal cord injury research project at the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD) lab; the knowledge in which I gained from volunteering at ICORD supplemented my learning at UBC.”

These four people exemplify the dedication and sheer brilliance of those students who volunteer at our acute and residential facilities.  By recognizing them, we recognize all those who give so generously and who share our common commitment to our patients, residents and clients.