Niagara Health is sending its gratitude during National Volunteer Week, April 25 to May 1, to our 600 volunteers for their dedication to providing patients and families with extraordinary care.

Although many Niagara Health volunteers are currently unable to provide in-person support due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they continue to find ways to share their skills and support patient care and hospital workers.

“Our volunteers are an integral part of our hospital, helping to provide quality patient-centered care and throughout the pandemic have supported virtually and in-person in a number of wayfinding roles as well as in our gift shops,” says Flo Paladino, Executive Vice-President, People and Organizational Development. “Our volunteers truly embody our purpose of Extraordinary Caring. Every Person. Every Time. We are so grateful for all that they do.”

Among those tireless volunteers is Brianna Sirotnik, who volunteered for several years supporting dialysis patients. Although the pandemic has forced Brianna to pause those volunteer duties, she continues to stay in touch with some of those patients who have become friends.

“Volunteering allows you to learn about people and connect with them,” Brianna says. “Volunteering allowed me to do that but also to look beyond myself and at the needs of others.”

Brianna started volunteering with Niagara Health while she was in high school. The experience put her on a career path to becoming a physician. She currently works part-time for Niagara Health, assisting with research in the Heart Investigation Unit and the Intensive Care Unit. In September, she will begin graduate studies in cardiology before applying to medical school.

Volunteers play an integral role at NH, volunteering in a number of departments, including Cardiac Rehab, Critical Care, Emergency Department, Medical Imaging, Mental Health, Outpatient Clinics, Palliative Care, Surgical Services, Walker Family Cancer Centre, Women and Babies, and gift shops.

Members of our Board of Directors are also volunteers who donate their time to provide oversight to our organization.

To learn more about our volunteers, please visit our Volunteer Resources page.