toh

Our volunteers provide an array of important services, from designing new technology to inspiring the next generation of health-care workers. Whatever their role, all of our volunteers are working to enhance the quality of care for patients and their families. In honour of this year’s National Volunteer Week, we’re spotlighting some of our volunteers who have given us the invaluable gift of their time and dedication.

If you’ve visited any hospital in the past two years, you may understand the stresses of keeping up with COVID-19 protocols. Throughout the pandemic, Anne-Marie Hartford has provided clarity to patients and their families.

Before the pandemic, Anne-Marie, a fifth-year biomedical science student with plans to attend medical school, volunteered in the Emergency Room at the Civic Campus on Sunday mornings. When COVID-19 made it unsafe for volunteers to serve in the ER, Anne-Marie immediately looked for a new way to contribute.

The courtesy calls team was established in the early days of the pandemic to keep patients up to date on the hospital’s evolving COVID-19 protocols. Anne-Marie joined this team of volunteers nearly two years ago and is now a team lead, scheduling shifts and training new volunteers. Though hospital restrictions are now easing, the team of volunteers still calls patients to remind them about their appointments and provide directions on where to go.

For Anne-Marie, the most rewarding part about her role has been helping patients navigate these unprecedented times. “It was really nice to at least talk to patients and make them feel more comfortable coming into the hospital,” she says. “And it felt like I was doing my part to help people during COVID.”

Feeling inspired?

We are re-building our volunteer services slowly and will open a few opportunities every few months, so please check the website regularly for updates. We look forward to welcoming our community back into the hospital to help improve the patient experience! Visit our volunteer page for more information.

Meet more of our inspiring volunteers

• A busy nursing schedule hasn’t stopped Bao-Anh from volunteering
• Claude serves coffee and companionship at the Rehabilitation Centre
• Joanna helps guide chemotherapy patients through uncertain times
• Jocelyn inspires the next generation of health-care workers through virtual co-op program
• ‘I got discharged, and I never really left’: Former patient Maxime volunteers his coding skills

You might also like…

A volunteer program that taps into the power of music

Studies have shown that music can benefit the body, mind, relationships and community. Musical Moments is a program where volunteers play live music to support positive outcomes for patients, visitors and staff.

Patient Experience, Volunteers

We’ve got you covered: The Ottawa Hospital now offers bandages for a variety of skin tones

Whenever you’ve scraped your knee or had your blood drawn, odds are your bandage was the same colour every time. Peach has been the default hue for over a century — but no longer at The Ottawa Hospital.

Compassion, Patient Experience

The power of community @ TOH

Last year, Registered Nurse Macrina Valcin created an intricate display on her unit for Black History Month, transforming the unit’s bulletin board into a powerful celebration of Black people, culture and history. This year, thanks to the warm support and encouragement from a newly formed inclusive community, Macrina is showcasing her passion project to a much larger audience.

Compassion, Staff Experience, Working Together

New gender-affirming surgery clinic now accepting patients

The Ottawa Hospital’s new gender-affirming surgery clinic is truly one of a kind. Launched in September 2023, it’s the only clinic in Ontario to offer trans and non-binary patients facial, top and bottom procedures. Plastic Surgeon Dr. Nicholas Cormier and his team are happy to announce that they are now accepting patient referrals from physicians.

Compassion, Innovation, Population Health

These volunteers turn chocolates and stuffed animals into MRI machines

We all know that a gift has the power to bring a smile to someone’s face. But did you know that the gifts you buy at our gift shops also have the power to help us buy important medical equipment? Our shops are run by a group of fundraising volunteers and staff from The Ottawa Hospital Auxiliary. Here are some other ways their efforts help make meaningful change.

Compassion, Volunteers, Working Together

“Stewards of hormones”: Our Gender Diversity Specialty Clinic guides medically complex patients on their affirmation journey

Often, trans and non-binary patients struggle to find health-care providers to support them on their affirmation journey. It is even more difficult for patients with complex medical needs. That’s why we launched our Gender Diversity Specialty Clinic, one of the first of its kind in Canada.

Compassion, Innovation, Population Health