February 2011 The online News Magazine of Saint Mary’s Health Care

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Volunteer VIP

Lifetime of Giving –  Surgical Waiting Room Volunteer Jean Barkin

“Volunteering is a two-way street — learning is listening,” Barkin relayed.

The people that she has encountered throughout the years have actually been the ones teaching her and giving her the opportunity to learn and grow from their stories.

“Everyone creates a memory,” Barkin says.

Every Wednesday morning, volunteer Jean Barkin comes into Saint Mary’s surgical waiting room to do what she loves – giving her time to others. Although she has only been positioned in the surgical waiting room for the last year, she has been a part of the Saint Mary’s family for over 20 years. She volunteered in the main lobby of the hospital for 20 years, and then for another two year in The Lacks Cancer Center.

Barkin began her volunteering journey at Saint Mary’s after hearing great things about the hospital from her sister, who has also put in over 25 years as a volunteer here. To Barkin, it is all about giving back to the community, and Saint Mary’s allows her to do just that.

“As corny as it sounds, Saint Mary’s is a ‘Hospital with a Heart,’ so it is my pleasure to be a part of it,” Barkin explains, “This hospital has a fine staff that is pleasant to be around. Whether it’s doctors, nurses, or patients, everyone treats each other on an equal level.”

Always having worked in a field where she gives back to others, Barkin has created a lifetime of giving. Before coming to Saint Mary’s, Barkin was a 2nd and 3rd grade teacher for many years, and after retirement worked for Aquinas College setting up graduates with teaching opportunities. She also spent time as a volunteer for reading programs in elementary school systems.

Whether she is registering patients, bringing a patient’s family to recovery rooms, or even making sure the waiting room area she works in is presentable, Barkin does it all with a warm smile.

Associate Millie Hilliker also recognizes the presence that she has: “You can tell she is a teacher. Jean does such a great job with patients; she’s sociable, has great interaction with others, and she’s always cheerful.”

“I don’t know what I would do if I wasn’t serving others. I’m always willing to learn and every day gives me an opportunity to learn and get better.”

Interested in volunteering at Saint Mary's? Call Rachel Selgo, Volunteer Coordinator at (616) 685.1898 or e-mail at selgor@trinity-health.org

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