The second anyone walks into the Patient and Caregiver Resource Center at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, they are instantly greeted with the same four words: “Can I help you?”. Throughout my first week as an intern at Winship, I have learned that this phrase is the backbone of the institution. Every single person I have met, whether being a staff member, volunteer, caregiver, or patient, has shared a similar value of service.
Starting with my supervisor DaVida Lee-Williams. Before even interviewing for the internship, I had already heard incredible things about DaVida, both from former volunteers and from people who had interned with her in the past. Now that I’ve had the privilege of spending just one week with her I can honestly say that all the incredible things that have been said about her are true. DaVida is the Director of Guest and Volunteer Services and she takes her job very seriously. Her office is located in the Patient and Caregiver Resource Center, which is essentially a lounge for patients, caregivers, and staff members to have a relaxing breather before returning to their usually hectic lives. DaVida does everything in her power to ensure that the patients, caregivers, and staff members of Winship are cared for on a holistic manner. This understanding of DaVida perfectly explains why she has assigned me the project that she has for this semester.
For my internship, DaVida has decided to make be the head of a huge project that she is starting at Winship. It is called the “Arts in Health” program. Essentially, the mission of the program is to bring another level of care to those within the Winship family by having community artists and volunteers come to Winship and help heal patients, caregivers, and staff members through engaging them in creative projects and demonstrations. Much research has shown the positive effects that the arts can have on cancer patients and those caring for them, and we want to bring those benefits to Winship. Because Winship is also a research center, the another goal of Arts in Health is to conduct our own study on the ways that various forms of art, such as visual arts, music, and performing arts, can help enhance the lives of patients, caregivers, and staff members at Winship. We will be partnering with Masters in Public Health students at Emory, as well as a Art Therapist who is conducting her thesis on the effects of artistic programs on the healing process of cancer patients.
As for my job, I will be wearing several hats during the process of integrating this program into Winship’s everyday atmosphere. So far, DaVida has assigned me the duties of:
- Developing a needs assessment to get an understanding of how the patients, caregivers, and staff members at Winship would feel about the implementation of this program and what types of art they may be interested in doing.
- Create an application to put on the Volunteer website specifically for community artists interested in volunteering their time and services at Winship.
- Plan an open house to introduce all artist volunteers to Winship, give them an idea of the different projects they will be doing, as well as provide an orientation on how to appropriately work and interact individuals with cancer.
- Find various avenues for funding our program; potentially assist in writing grants.
- Conduct research on art programs that have been implemented in hospitals/cancer institutions in the past.
- Find and contact local community artists who may be interested in volunteering their time.
- Work with the Emory MPH students to help them conduct their research.
Not only do we have the installation of the Arts in Health program, but Winship is also preparing for the Winship Win The Fight 5K Run/Walk that is happening on October 14th. This 5K is one of the largest fundraisers that Winship puts on annually, and has raised more than $3.2 million in support for cancer research at Winship so far. More information about my role in this event will come as we get closer to the date, but I am extraordinarily excited for this event.
This past week has been a series new experiences for me. Before working at Winship, I had never worked closely with cancer patients before, and I was originally very nervous that I wouldn’t be able to fully fulfill my role to assist and serve these patients. At the end of my first day of work, I was talking to DaVida about my concern of not knowing how to appropriately help those who come into the center and my insecurity that I wouldn’t be able to serve them in the perfect way that they need to be served, and DaVida turned to me and she said, “All you need to do is start with a smile, and you’ll be able to figure out the rest from there.” And I had not idea how true that statement would end up being. Throughout the rest of the week, just a simple smile on my part resulted in: a 2 hour long discussion with a Vietnam vet who was recovering from lung cancer, meeting a fellow Winship staff member who soon became a close friend, daily hot chocolate dates with Shirley and her mother, assisting a patient who in infusion make a bracelet for his wife, assisting three different gentleman in figuring out technology difficulties with their iPhones, and meeting some of the most genuinely caring people I have ever had the opportunity to know.