By Staff Reports
(Honolulu) — The Queen’s Medical Center (Queen’s) recently honored its volunteers at an appreciation luncheon, hosted by Robb Ohtani, M.D., representing the Queen’s Board of Trustees, and Art Ushijima, president of The Queen’s Medical Center.
The yearly statistics show just how much the volunteers positively affect the lives of Queen’s patients. Volunteers worked on 946 projects for 68 different departments. They delivered more than 1,500 floral arrangements. The craft group made 1,342 baby caps, 246 oncology caps and 720 cardiac pillows. All together, Queen’s volunteers donated 54,426 hours in service to patients and the community in 2016.
Karen Sumida received the Ho‘omau Award, which recognizes longevity of service. She received a trophy and monetary award; and her name was added to a perpetual plaque. She has been a Queen’s volunteer for more than 25 years, joining in 1991, after her father was diagnosed with and treated for colon cancer. “I loved the staff, doctors and volunteers at Queen’s – they were all great to my father – and that inspired me to volunteer,” Sumida said. Back then, she was working full-time as a dental assistant in Kaimuki. Thursdays were her days off, and she chose to spend them serving others at the hospital. Her father became a colon cancer survivor and passed away from natural causes at age 93.
Currently, Sumida volunteers with Oncology and also assists with events such as Oncology on Canvas and Queen’s Colon Cancer Awareness Event. She lives in Palolo Valley and graduated from Waipahu High School.
Ushijima recognized all of the volunteers at Queen’s. “We are grateful to the many volunteers who chose Queen’s to make a difference in our community,” he said. “When you see the dedication and aloha they bring, it touches your heart and inspires you. We are honored, blessed and thankful to have them as a part of our ‘ohana.”
Volunteers have been an integral part of The Queen’s Medical Center for more than 157 years. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please visit www.queensmedicalcenter.org/be-a-volunteer-home, or call Queen’s Volunteer Services at Punchbowl at (808) 691-4397 or at West O‘ahu at (808) 691-3197.