Volunteers get a cash boost towards healthcare careers

Friends of Chinook award four Professionals of Tomorrow scholarships

Story & photo by Kelly Morris

LETHBRIDGE — Volunteering is rewarding in so many ways. For youth, volunteering builds a resume, provides an opportunity to explore career options, and offers a fun and engaging way to give back to the community.

For four volunteers at Chinook Regional Hospital (CRH) — Farhan Mohammed, Nicolas Yagos, Karma Patel and Zitong Wu — their good works have also brought a welcome financial reward with their 2024 Healthcare Professionals of Tomorrow scholarships.

Each year, the Friends of Chinook Regional Hospital and Alberta Health Services (AHS) Volunteer Resources select two high school student volunteers and two post-secondary student volunteers who aspire to a career in healthcare. This year’s recipients stood out due to their outstanding passion for volunteerism, along with their enthusiasm, dedication and desire for careers in healthcare.

“I’m so impressed with their dedication to volunteering at CRH while maintaining excellent grades,” says Daniel Erickson, executive director, Friends of Chinook Regional Hospital. “The impact each of these volunteers has made on both patients and staff is immeasurable.”

Post-secondary students Mohammed and Yagos are both well on their way to their career goals. Mohammed recently completed a Bachelor of Science at the University of Lethbridge and will begin the Doctor of Pharmacy program in Ontario in January.

“Volunteering at CRH provided numerous opportunities to interact with patients from diverse backgrounds. It’s been very rewarding to be of service to others — and to make a positive difference during the challenging times of their lives,” says Mohammed. “This scholarship will help me get started on my journey to achieving my career goals, and has made my volunteer experience at CRH even more special and memorable.”

Yagos will begin his third year in the Bachelor of Nursing program in Lethbridge this fall, with aspirations of becoming a nurse practitioner or doctor. His scholarship will not only support the cost of his education, but means he’ll be able to dedicate time to more volunteering.

“By reducing the financial impact of schooling, this award will allow me to donate more of my time to the hospital with less emphasis on getting paid work,” says Yagos. “This provides me both the personal benefits I’ve seen from volunteering, as well as the career-based benefits of volunteer experience, such as in applications for graduate programs or medical school.”

Patel and Wu volunteered during their high school years and say they’re excited to begin their post-secondary education this fall, with both venturing overseas to study medicine in the UK. Patel will attend the University of Dundee School of Medicine, while Wu will study at King’s College in London.

“It feels incredibly rewarding to have my work recognized, and I’m deeply grateful to Friends of Chinook Regional Hospital for acknowledging my contributions and providing me with this scholarship,” says Patel. “I look forward to becoming a doctor and continuing my service to the community.”

Adds Wu: “This scholarship means a lot to me. It recognizes the time I’ve dedicated to many patients and empowers me to continue doing so in the future. It will go a long way in supporting my professional aspirations in healthcare.”

The foursome are proof that volunteering is a great way to gain experience, find a passion, connect with people, and give back to one’s community.

Erickson salutes this year’s recipients: “Congratulations on this significant achievement on your journey toward a career in healthcare.”