In Service of Others

What inspires someone to volunteer time outside their work, particularly those in the health care profession?

Written by Julie Taylor

Many of our dedicated Torrance Memorial health care professionals view their work as more than just a job—it’s a calling. This innate desire to help others often extends into their personal lives, motivating them to continue serving their communities through volunteer work.

Health care professionals witness the impact of illness, injury and other challenges firsthand. This exposure can instill a commitment to make a positive difference beyond their day-to-day job and contribute to a broader cause with compassion and empathy.

Volunteering can provide many benefits to those who give of themselves, such as personal growth, improved mental health and a sense of fulfillment. It offers opportunities to develop new skills, share expertise, expand social networks and gain a broader perspective on life. Connecting with individuals from diverse backgrounds and developing meaningful relationships outside one’s professional circles can be rewarding and inspiring.

The following stories shared by Torrance Memorial employees contribute to our health system’s culture of compassion, altruism and service to others. Would you like to share your volunteer experience for a future issue? Please connect with us at OnCenter@tmmc.com.

Mark Lurie, MD, and Barbara Demming Lurie

Physician Mark Lurie retired in June as the medical director of the Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute after four decades of service. He and his remarkable wife, Barbara, have been mentors in the Partnership Scholars Program (PSP) for the past 13 years. This nonprofit matches low-income, motivated middle and high school students with prescreened volunteer mentors who act as friends, coaches, companions, role models and one-person rooting sections.

Volunteers like the Luries help kids bridge the cultural divide by engaging in community activities and encouraging their pursuit of higher education. Their involvement has been a particularly enriching experience for them, and Dr. Lurie never misses an opportunity to share his love of The Ohio State University and “The Best Damn Band in the Land” with these young, impressionable mentees.

How successful is the PSP? Ninety-six percent of the students have gone on to four-year colleges, landing an average of over $112,000 in scholarship aid.

To learn more, visit partnershipscholarsprogram.org.

Sean Yokoe

When Sean Yokoe, RN, director of progressive care services at Torrance Memorial, first heard about the fires in Lahaina, Hawaii, his first thought

 was to check in with his friend Zac Yamada, who grew up on the island of Maui, and offer to help. Zac connected Sean with his sister, Char, who lives in Nāpili, the neighborhood next to Lahaina. She is involved in the Nāpili Noho’ charity group, which distributes donated food, produce, dry goods, hygiene items and more. They also serve as a site for health services, lomilomi, job and benefits assistance, and internet access. The focus is to aid those most directly affected and displaced by the Lahaina fire disaster.

Without hesitation, Sean and his wife, Veronica, booked their flights and signed up to join the effort. The couple volunteered for two days, helping distribute food and supplies. It was a humbling experience talking to people who lost so much and are still displaced after losing their homes and places of employment, Sean says. The community was very thankful and welcoming, and it made the trip unforgettable. Sean would like to thank the Torrance Memorial employees who donated to charities supporting Lahaina residents.

To learn more, visit napilinoho.com.

Stacey Shames

Stacey Shames, RN, is the lead nurse of the ICU burn and wound unit at Torrance Memorial. For the past 24 years she has volunteered one week of her time every summer at Champ Camp. Created in 1971, Champ Camp is supported by the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, established after Alisa perished at age 8 in a backyard barbecue accident in Southern California.

Champ Camp is a weeklong, residential summer camp for child burn survivors ages 5 to 17 who have been treated at California hospitals or are current residents of California. Approximately 150 children attend this experience at Wonder Valley in Sanger, California, each year.

Champ Camp is free to all burn survivors, and it is fully staffed by medical doctors, nurses, program staff, volunteers and counselors—many of whom are also burn unit nurses, burn doctors, adult burn survivors and firefighters. Activities at the camp include fishing, horseback riding, crafts, canoeing, archery, waterslides, campfire, dance and team-building activities. Stacey loves being involved because the camp’s focus is for burn survivors to have fun and just be kids away from medical procedures and financial hardships.

Campers can also engage with other kids who bear similar burn wounds without feeling different. Champ Camp provides a safe environment where burn survivors can play, learn, grow, gain self-esteem and make new friends.

To learn more, visit aarbf.org/project/champ-camp.

Kelli Vieweg

After spending a career in human resources and development, information technology and finance, Kelli Vieweg retired and found she had some time on her calendar. She actively volunteered with her daughter in the National Charity League and enjoyed the experience, which led her to volunteer at Torrance Memorial for the past two years. Currently serving on the Auxiliary’s board of directors, Kelli’s volunteering doesn’t stop at Torrance Memorial.

After helping her mother through a breast cancer journey, she became engaged with Cancer Support Community South Bay (CSCSB). The mission of CSCSB is to uplift and strengthen people impacted by cancer by providing support, fostering compassionate communities and breaking down barriers to care. Considering her career expertise and strengths, she quickly found a niche in mentoring, reaching back in and being able to help and advise the group. Now, almost five years later, Kelli serves as president of the board of directors and has helped create brand awareness of the global network, normalizing the conversations around cancer.

In a tribute to her Navy veteran father, Kelli also spends time as an online mentor for America Corporate Partners (ACP), based in Virginia. ACP’s free Mentoring Program connects post-9/11 veterans, active-duty spouses and eligible military spouses with corporate professionals (mentors). By leveraging her career expertise and strengths, Kelli is a valuable mentor and life coach, helping veterans transition into civilian work with confidence and success.

To learn more, visit cscsouthbay.org and acp-usa.org/mentoring-program.