Mary Brown

Job Title
Volunteer

Department/Location
Palliative Care Unit

How long have you worked at VCH?
9.5 years

Tell us what you do at VCH in one or two sentences:
My certified therapy dog and I visit on the Palliative Care Unit once a week for 1.5 hours. We visit with staff, patients, friends and relatives spreading unconditional dog love.

What’s your favourite thing about your work?
We make a positive difference in the people’s lives that we visit with. It may only be for a moment or for a few minutes, but our interactions can stay with a person for a long time.

How does your work contribute to the VCH True North goals?
We help to provide better health for our communities by making people smile and feel better if only for a time. The calming energy of a dog is very therapeutic.

One thing we might be surprised to learn about you:
Molly and I had to pass 13 tests to be a therapy team that works with adults and a further 6 test to work with children. I had to take and pass a 26 hour course for volunteers visiting Palliative Care Units.

Three things you always have in your fridge:
Smoked salmon, lettuce (my garden is going nuts), liver flavoured glucosamine for my 13 year old Labrador, Emma (who was also a VGH volunteer, but is now retired).

Who or what inspires you?
I know this sounds dorky, but my husband, Dr. Ross Brown of trauma services at VGH.

Most healthy habit:
Daily exercise in many forms.

Favourite vacation spot:
Banfield, BC