MESA (April 15, 2024) – Dr. Adonis Jabbour, an infectious disease physician at Banner Baywood Medical Center and Banner Heart Hospital, is used to seeing patients during the week. Donning his Banner employee badge and a stethoscope around his neck, Dr. Jabbour roams the hallways of the hospitals tending to his patients.
However, on some weekends during the month, he helps patients in a different way -- not as a doctor, but as a volunteer with his 14-year-old daughter, Elissar. Both father and daughter spend quality time together by giving back and volunteering at the same two hospitals where Dr. Jabbour works.
“We volunteer every Saturday. If I’m not on call, we’ll volunteer two or three Saturdays during the month,” said Dr. Jabbour.
Elissar is a high school freshman who plays the violin and is engaged in her academic studies, which require her to do some volunteering. She aimed to find volunteer work that aligned with her future goals of possibly working in health care, just like her father.
April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, an opportunity to appreciate those who give their spare time to serve others in need. This month, Banner Health is recognizing some exceptional volunteers who are actively supporting their communities.
“Volunteer opportunities for students interested in a career in health care are so beneficial because of what volunteering teaches,” said Jenna Davis, associate director of volunteer services at Banner Baywood and Banner Heart.
Beginning at the age of 14, teens like Elissar qualify to volunteer at Banner Baywood Medical Center and Banner Heart Hospital. However, because of safety protocols, those ages 14 and 15 are required to volunteer with a parent or guardian. In Elissar’s case, that meant her dad could accompany her. He spends time with his daughter while understanding the needs of the patients they help.
Dr. Jabbour said, “As a physician, I practice on patient care, disease and treatment. Our focus as volunteers is more on patient needs.”
Dr. Jabbour and Elissar help provide blankets and face masks in patient rooms while volunteering. They may do additional things such as visiting patients and offering them complimentary items such as books, magazines, crossword puzzles, etc. They also assist the staff with any requests they might have such as stocking the storage units, helping with blanket warmers and even helping to transport patients via wheelchair as they are discharged from the hospital. All of these tasks done by volunteers are intended to help make patients more comfortable during their stay and also help hospital staff better focus on providing direct patient care.
Last year, Banner Health hospitals benefitted from the generous service of 3,411 volunteers who contributed a staggering 371,513 hours. Volunteers at all Banner Hospitals can perform a variety of jobs, including greeting visitors at the front desks, transporting visitors via golf carts around the hospitals, stocking storage units with hospital supplies, and selling items at the various gift shops. The list goes on and on.
Davis said, “Volunteers truly are the heart of Banner Health. They often provide patients with a deep sense of understanding, a shoulder to lean on and an opportunity to make someone’s life a little better, just by letting people know they care.”
To learn more about volunteering at Banner Health, go to www.BannerHealth.com/volunteer.
Banner Health is one of the largest, secular nonprofit health care systems in the country. In addition to 33 hospitals, Banner also operates an academic medicine division, Banner – University Medicine, and Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, a partnership with one of the world’s leading cancer programs, MD Anderson Cancer Center. Banner’s array of services includes a health insurance division, employed physician groups, outpatient surgery centers, urgent care locations, home care and hospice services, retail pharmacies, stand-alone imaging centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation, behavioral health services, a research division and a nursing registry. To make health care easier, 100% of Banner-employed doctors are available for virtual visits and patients may also reserve spots at Banner Urgent Care locations and can book appointments online with many Banner-employed doctors. Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health also has locations in California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com.
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