A Newsletter for MD Anderson Volunteers

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Volunteer VoiceFall 2010

Volunteers Are Part of the Team at the Regional Care Centers

MD Anderson’s regional care centers began with the Radiation Treatment Center in Bellaire in December 1999. Other locations,

then-called satellite centers, followed as MD Anderson expanded its services into area neighborhoods in The Woodlands, Fort Bend, Bay Area, Sugar Land and Katy. For these centers, volunteers came on the scene in 2004 and were initially placed in the Fort Bend and The Woodlands centers. Originally a program only available to volunteers who were members of the Anderson Network, volunteers are now assigned through Volunteer Services. “In 2009, program responsibility for the regional care centers was transferred from the Anderson Network to the Volunteer Services recruitment and training team,” explains Susan French, executive director of Volunteer Services. “The transfer of the program to Mary Donnelly Jackson, program coordinator for recruitment, placement and training, allowed us to develop volunteer positions to meet the individual needs of each regional care center, to support the training required for offsite programming and to offer opportunities for experienced volunteers.” Margaret Looper, a retired school principal and a former MD Anderson patient, was the original volunteer at The MD Anderson Regional Care Center in The Woodlands. Her initiative shines through in her work as she has taken on “whatever needs doing.” Beyond the normal responsibilities of putting together packets of educational materials, stocking supplies and visiting with patients and caregivers, Margaret goes the extra mile with her volunteer work. She is especially impressed by the bell ceremony, which is held for every patient completing radiation, and feels that everyone should have a memento from this occasion. She has created special key chains with versions for men, women and breast cancer survivors that she presents each time a patient rings the bell. However, she hasn’t stopped there. When Margaret realized that some of the patients who had lost their hair were cold, she got her niece’s church group to crochet hats

so the patients could stay warm. The demand increased, so Margaret began to make hats and she says that patients also donate them from time to time. She got her own church group involved and they make heart pillows for breast cancer patients. Staff members are not forgotten either. Margaret makes certain that everyone is recognized on their “special days” with cards and sometimes flowers or refreshments. “I watch and look for what’s needed and they just let me,” Margaret says. “Although I do work part time training teachers, volunteering is my real job. I just love it.”

Husband and wife team Bob and Judi Fletcher report for their volunteer shift at The MD Anderson Regional Care Center in Katy.

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While the number of volunteers in our regional care centers is a small group, the position is growing. Jackson, program coordinator for the program, says that the 20th volunteer in a center was placed in September. The number of patients reached by the program is also growing.Volunteer patient and caregiver contacts for the regional care centers were more than 650 during the month of September. “The role of the volunteer in the regional care centers differs from that of a volunteer on the main campus,” Jackson reports. “The shifts may be shorter, adjusting the positions to meet the needs of the regional care centers. In addition, there may be only one volunteer on site so they have varied responsibilities to perform. Many patients also come alone to the centers and stay for brief amounts of time so there is sometimes less involve- ment with the patient and caregivers.” Although these volunteers typically report to the nurse manager at the individual centers, Jackson is the volunteer coordinator for the whole program. She also serves on the regional care centers’ communication team along with representatives from Physician Relations, Communications, Marketing, Patient Education and others. One new aspect of the placement is that the volunteers in the Regional Care Centers are no longer required to be survivors or Anderson Network members. The only stipulation is thatthey must have volunteered at the MD Anderson Main Campus. Currently, the goal is to “circle the city” with MD Anderson cancer treatment and care, according to Kent Postma, director of clinical business operations for the Regional Care Centers. The centers average 180 patients daily and 33% of all MD Anderson radiation treatment

is done here. From the original “only radiation” concept at the Bellaire center, surgeons have now been added to both the Katy and Sugar Land centers, and plastic and reconstructive surgery services are also being broughton. In addition, Postma adds that “suspicion of cancer” patients are being seen regularly. At the Regional Care Center in Katy, Bob and Judi Fletcher are busy giving back. Energized by the care that Judi received as a former bladder and breast cancer patient at MD Anderson, the couple has teamed up together to support all survivors. They both say that they are excited to be a part of the growth of MD Anderson. Kay Westfall, who was treated at MD Anderson in 2004 for inflammatory breast cancer, enjoys the opportunity to give back. She explains that when she was a patient, the relief she and her husband received from the coffee cart made her realize that volunteering was something she wanted to do when she recovered.

“Look Good … Feel Better [a program of the American Cancer Society in partnership with Volunteer Services that teaches beauty techniques to cancer patients to help them combat the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment] is my baby,” says Westfall, “and I make sure that we have the kits and supplies necessary. I also put together patient education materials, stock supplies, answer the phones – generally anything that they need me to do. Occasionally, I talk with the patients because sometimes they just need an ear.” Volunteers are obviously of growing importance to the regional care centers and any main campus volunteer who would like to give time to this effort is encouraged to contact Mary Donnelly Jackson at 713-792-3792 or by e-mail at mdonnelly@mdanderson.org for training and placement.

Volunteers Are Part of the Team at the Regional Care Centers continued

The MD Anderson Regional Care Center in the Bay Area celebrated National Cancer Survivor’s Day, which is held each year in hundreds of communities worldwide to celebrate survivors and their caregivers. Kay Westfall, left, a breast cancer survivor who volunteers at the center, pins an “Only One Me” survivorship button on MD Anderson patient Jodi Grisham.

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Celebrate A Star

If you spend much time at MD Anderson, you’re most likely

familiar with the Celebrate A Star cards and balloons displayed on bulletin boards around the institution. Celebrate A Star is one of the nicest ways for patients and caregivers to recognize an employee, says Frances Snipes, program coordinator. The program, which was developed by Patient Advocacy in 1992, became a placement for Volunteer Services in 1994. Each week, volunteers Doug Burchfield and Marilyn Flick come to the Volunteer Services office

and begin blowing up balloons and attaching them to the special cards sent in by patients and their caregivers. Faculty and staff are acknowledged for the “easy stick” in the Diagnostic Center, for kind words given during a difficult time and even just for listening when someone needs someone to talk to. The Celebrate A Star cards are available in most clinics and have an area designated for comments. The completed cards are either returned to Volunteer Services through interoffice mail or are picked up by the Celebrate A Star volunteers as they make their route delivering

cards and balloons throughout the institution. One of the most touching stories that has come from the Celebrate A Star program involved a woman who found 10 to 15 of the completed cards among her husband’s effects. The cards made their way back to Volunteer Services and some two years after the patient’s death, the cards were delivered to the designated faculty/staff members. At that time, all but one of the recipients were still employed by MD Anderson. Volunteers who work with this program believe that everyone should be recognized because so many people contribute to the quality of care received at MD Anderson.

“It’s amazing what a helium balloon will do to lift someone’s spirits. Everyone loves to receive them,” says Snipes.

The Rose Garden

You’ve probably noticed the rose bushes blooming along the front of

MD Anderson. Officially designated as the Tom Jean Moore Memorial Rose Garden, the beds are full of color during rose season. This long-time program began in 1978 with volunteer Tom Jean Moore, who wished to benefit all MD Anderson patients.

Volunteers who work with the roses receive a four-hour training session from a facilities horticulturist, where they learn basic care and how to properly cut the roses for distribution to patients. Once the roses have been cut, the volunteer brings them into Volunteer Services and places them in a vase (filled with water, of course) adorned with a tag saying “Volunteer Rose Garden – Please enjoy this rose from the Tom Jean Moore Memorial Rose Garden. Funding provided by the Volunteer Endowment for Patient Support.” The roses are delivered by volunteer floor hosts to inpatients, says Catherine Caverly, volunteer coordinator. “Normally, floor hosts

ask the unit nurses who should receive the special roses and they’re often given to a patient needing a lift or to one having a birthday,” she says. The rose garden sites change due to construction, but there are always blooms to share.

Net Notes

When you’re a patient at MD Anderson, you’re often

removed from family and friends, so it’s a warm feeling to receive a personal message from them via the Net Notes program.

Special Care for Special Folks

Loaded up with cards and balloons to Celebrate A Star recipients, Doug Burchfield and Marilyn Flick set out on their rounds throughout the institution to recognize MD Anderson employees who have gone the extra mile for patients and their caregivers.

Suzie Harmon, a volunteer in the Tom Jean Moore Memorial

Rose Garden, clips a rose that will soon be delivered by a

volunteer floor host to make a patient’s day brighter.

Elke Groomer, senior secretary in the Volunteer Services office, manages this program. She explains that on the top menu bar of the MD Anderson website is a link that says “Contact

Us.” If you click on this, you’ll be taken to a page offering various methods of contact, one of which is under the Patients, Friends & Family heading. Simply click

on the “Send a message to a patient” link to go to a form to complete that includes information about who the message is from, who it is going to and then, of course, the message itself. Once the form is completed and sent, it is received by Health Information Services. The message is acknowledged and then sent to Groomer who prints it out and places it in an envelope with a special Net Notes stamp. After that, it’s a matter of “special delivery” by a volunteer.

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Teen Volunteers Give and Receive

The Volunteer Gift Shops are on the receiving end of the help from many teen volunteers.

To recognize this support, the annual scholarship awards from the gift shops helped 17 teen volunteers attend their choice of colleges in 2010. These outstanding teen volunteers were awarded $2,500 scholarships to help support their education. While most of the teens plan to attend Texas colleges and universities, several are venturing outside the state as far as Tennessee.

Chloe Griffen – Bellaire High School; attending Grinnell College; volunteered year round on the Hat Cart and in the Beauty/Barber Shop.Ebony Heard – Carver High School; attending Houston Baptist University; volunteered in the Beauty/Barber Shop and in the gift shops.Farah Hoque – Elkins High School; attending Baylor University; volunteered year round in outpatient surgery, as a floor host and as volunteer staff support.Stephanie Martinez – First Baptist Christian Academy; attending San Jacinto College – Central; volunteered in the gift shops and in the Canteen.Shannon McPhillips – Stratford High School; attending the University of Tennessee; volunteered in the gift shops, as a clinic aide in the Diagnostic Center and in patient access in Cancer PreventionPatrick Natividad – Dulles High School; attending the University of Houston; volunteered as a clinic aide in the Diagnostic, Lymphoma/Myeloma and Sarcoma Centers, as a floor host, in the gift shops and with Popcorn in the Park.Vivek Sreeram – Bellaire High School; attending The University of Texas at Austin; volunteered year round in the Cyber Center, in the Diagnostic Imaging Center, as a book cart aide and other projects.Dasha Tikhomirova – DeBakey High School; attending The University of Houston; volunteered year round as a floor host, in the Rose Garden, as volunteer staff support and as an entertainment volunteer.Vanessa Vazquez – Galena Park High School; attending The University of Texas at Austin; volunteered on the Popcorn Cart, the Jolly Trolley and the Coffee Cart, in The Learning Center, the gift shops and in the Patient/Family Center. The teens have all volunteered at MD Anderson for a minimum of two years and have each worked an average of 259 volunteer hours.

“Volunteer Services enjoys being able to assist these young volunteers who have given so much of their time to MD Anderson,” says Susan French, executive director of the department. “We’ve worked with these teens for multiple years and truly appreciate the difference they’ve made in the lives of our patients and their families.” Chaired by Caroline Sabin, a volunteer representative from The Junior League of Houston, Inc., the scholarship committee selected the following 2010 teen scholarship recipients:Hongjing Cao - Dulles High School; attending Rice University; volunteered in the gift shops, the Patient/Family Center, the Coffee Cart and more. Victoria Cheng – Kingwood High School; attending The University of Texas at Austin; volunteered for the Children’s Art Project, the Coffee Cart and the Jolly Trolley.Catarina Delgado – Dawson High School; attending the University of Houston Honors College; volunteered on the Art Cart, in the gift shops and in the Research Medical Library.Chaynce Figg – Pearland High School; attending The University of Texas at San Antonio; volunteered in the gift shops, on the Coffee Cart, as a cafeteria greeter and for the Children’s Art Project.Khrystien Frelow – Cypress Ridge High School; attending Louisiana State University; volunteered year round in the Cyber Center, gift shops, Popcorn in the Park and as volunteer staff support.Tahara Garrett – Carnegie Vanguard High School; attending Stephen F. Austin State University; volunteered in the gift shops and on the Coffee Cart.Jasmin George – Kempner High School; attending Houston Baptist University; volunteered year round for almost three years in the gift shops.Nevin George – Dawson High School; attending the University of Houston; volunteered year round on the Coffee Cart and continues as an evening volunteer.

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The Volunteer Services Beauty/Barber Shop, currently located in the basement of the Main

Building near Elevator E, is moving to a new home on Floor 6. As part of the Alkek Hospital expansion project, which adds 12 additional floors atop the existing hospital, patients will find beauty/barber services in the new location on Monday, Nov. 8. The move will begin after the close of business hours on Wednesday, Nov. 3, and continue through the weekend. Patients will be pampered in the new shop which is located conveniently to the F elevators. The new Beauty/Barber Shop, which has been designed like a salon with five styling stations, two shampoo stations and two hairdryers, is beautifully appointed with wood grain cabinets,

Haircuts and Washes and Wigs – Oh, My!Look for the Beauty/Barber Shop in a New Location

rain glass and pendant lighting. This new space affords more privacy and charm and lots of windows. Additionally, ample space is provided for wigs, turbans and other amenities. Starting in October, information about the move will be available throughout the hospital. Signage will be posted in front of the current and former Beauty/Barber Shop locations to help patients find their way to the new shop. There are other moves for Volunteer Services coming up soon. Watch for information about new locations for the Cyber Center and the Patient/Family Center in the next issue.

Teen volunteers who received Volunteer Services Gift Shop Scholarships gathered for one final celebration. Pictured on the back row (L-R) are Nevin George, Khrysy Frelow, Ebony Heard, Chloe Griffen, Hongjing Cao and Patrick Natividad. Teens on the front row (L-R) are Catarina Delgado, Tahara Garrett, Jasmin George, Dasha Tikhomirova, Vanessa Vazquez and Victoria Cheng. Not pictured are Chaynce Figg, Farah Hoque, Stephanie Martinez, Shannon McPhillips and Vivek Sreeram.

“It’s an outstanding year in that we’re honoring 17 devoted teen volunteers,” says Sandy Gomel, manager of sales and marketing for the gift shops. “Many of them have worked in the gift shops over the years and the proceeds they helped raise allowed the Department of Volunteer Services to increase our scholarship awards this year. The contributions these young volunteers make are a vital contribution to MD Anderson.”

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Teen Volunteers continued

Lin Munoz and Justine Joseph, both licensed cosmetologists on the Volunteer Services staff, get ready to move into the newly located Beauty/Barber Shop on Floor 6.

In an unusual departure from past conferences, the 22nd annual Anderson Network Cancer

Survivorship Conference came to a close with a bam and a thump and a strong drumming beat. The 22nd annual Anderson Network Cancer Survivorship Conference, held Sept. 24-25, brought experts from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to deliver empowering messages to many cancer survivors and their caregivers.This exciting activity was provided by The Drum Café, a new trend in unity-building brought from Africa. The Drum Café’s unique and very hands-on approach leverages music as a common language for relationships, allows an opportunity to celebrate success and tackles challenges. There were no spectators during this powerful conclusion − each conference attendee was provided a drum and followed the lead from the stage. Held Sept. 24-25, the Survivorship Conference brought more than 45 experts from MD Anderson to deliver empowering messages to many cancer survivors and their caregivers. A total of 542 people registered for the conference, with participants coming as far away as Australia, Canada and Great Britain. Laura Hearn of the Anderson Network staff led preparations for the conference supported by a talented team of 43 patient volunteers and other Network and Volunteer Services staff. Integrative medicine expert Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., and neurosurgeon Jeffrey Weinberg, M.D., along with his patient Gail Goodwin, also an employee at MD Anderson, informed attendees on what you can do to prevent cancer — or a recurrence of cancer − and what is the latest news in neurosurgery and neuro-oncology. As a keynote speaker, Cohen kicked off the Survivorship Conference

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Anderson Network Cancer Survivorship Conference Concludes With a Beat

with an encouraging message stating that fairly simple lifestyle choices might be effective in staving off cancer. He advised participants to take their health into their own hands by exercising more often, switching to a plant-based diet, avoiding environmental contaminants and reducing stress by meditating, practicing yoga and trying other forms of complementary medicine. Goodwin, a MD Anderson patient since April 2009, and Weinberg wrapped up the conference sessions with a discussion on “a very bad April Fool’s Day joke” that turned out to be a brain tumor. Titled “She Had Her Head Examined: A Patient and Her Surgeon Share the Inside Story,” the talk featured Goodwin’s observations on the experience of going from being an MD Anderson employee to a patient, and Weinberg’s perspective on her treatment. In between Cohen, Goodwin and Weinberg, a medical panel plus numerous breakout sessions were open to all cancer patients, their families and caregivers. The conference included nearly two dozen informative breakout sessions, and MD Anderson President John Mendelsohn, M.D., led the popular medical panel on Saturday morning. On a lighter side, humorist Jill Conner Browne, better known as The Sweet Potato Queen, provided entertainment at the banquet on the

evening of Sept. 24. Kenneth Woo, a dedicated Anderson Networker, was presented with the annual Joseph T. Painter Award. A recipient of this award is chosen each year in recognition of exceptional contributions to patient networking activities and support. The Anderson Network, with a membership base of more than 1,700 patients and caregivers, provides support and educational services for patients/survivors, their families and caregivers. Anderson Network is a program of Volunteer Services. Mark your calendars now − the next Anderson Network Cancer Survivorship Conference will be held on Sept. 16-17, 2011.

Steve Stuyck, vice president for Public Affairs; Kenneth Woo, conference chairman; and Raymond DuBois, provost and executive vice president of MD Anderson, all smile after Woo was presented with the Joseph T. Painter Award.

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New employees in Volunteer Services include (L to R) Amanda Coldiron, Yolanda Alex-ander, Julia Jenkins, Uttesha Lumpkin and Marguerite McKinney.

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PA I DHouston, TexasPermit No. 7052

The University of TexasMD Anderson Cancer Cancer CenterVolunteer Services 163100 /30076654 — Unit 1151515 HolcombeHouston Texas 77030-3800

Volunteer Priority Needs: floor hosts, Anderson Network Hospitality Centers, gift shops

Volunteer Continuing Education Events

Fall 2010

Attending any of these events meets your annual Volunteer Continuing Education requirement.

Please contact Volunteer Services at 713-792-7180 or mdonnelly@ mdanderson.org to make a reservation.

General Fire Safety and Fire Extinguisher Training Tuesday, Nov. 210 a.m.-noon*Main Building, Floor 11, Wiess Conference Room

*You are invited to remain to hear the State-of-the-Institution 2010 Address by John Mendelsohn, M.D., president, MD Anderson Cancer Center

MD Anderson Updates General Fire Safety and Fire Extinguisher Training

Robert Russo, fire safety inspector, Environmental Health and Safety

MD Anderson’s Tumor Registry Tuesday, Nov. 3010 a.m.-noonMain Building, Floor 11, Conference Rooms R11.1100, 1-3

MD Anderson Updates MD Anderson’s Tumor RegistrySarah Taylor, informatics manager, Tumor Registry

Orientation IIThis workshop includes tips for communicating with patients, the patient perspective and information about MD Anderson’s psychosocial support services.Wednesday, Nov. 3, noon-2:30 p.m.Thursday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

RSVP: 713-792-7180 or mdonnelly@mdanderson.org

PIKNIC (Partners in Knowledge, News in Cancer) is an informal educational forum that provides patients, caregivers, family members, faculty and staff an opportunity to hear about those issues, needs and concerns relevant to the cancer experience. PIKNICS are held at the Place…of wellness, Mays Clinic: ACB2.1041 on the first and third Tuesdays and third Thursday of the month. See schedule in Volunteer Services.

NEW HOURS: Visit the Patient/Family Library on Floor 1, The Aquarium. The library hours are now 8 a.m.-5 p.m.