Page 108 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2018

HEALTHY LIVING lending a hand
Cathy Wood, Memorial
Vice President Human Resources; Jean Ouellette; and Gary Marchand, Memorial President/CEO.
Hospital Volunteers
HONORED THIS MONTH
story by Lynn Lofton photos by Memorial Hospital at Gulfport
pril is National Volunteer Month and Memorial Hospital at Gulfport has no shortage of outstanding volunteers. Many of them have been with the hospital since before Hurricane Katrina and were honored with the American Hospital Association’s Award for Volunteer Excellence after the storm.
“Our volunteers donated over
$88,000 in 2017 through our gift shop and vendor sales, with the money donated back to Memorial for various departmental and staff needs,” hospital spokeswoman Janet Stuart said. “The volunteers have always played a key role in helping us achieve the mission of Building a Healthier Community. This year, through the generosity of our Auxiliary, we have been able to purchase training and other medical equipment which ensures our staff has the best training, skills, and techniques available to provide excellent patient care.”
The volunteers include some with lengthy service, such as Barbara Martin, who works an average of 800 hours per year in the cath lab, vendor sales, flower delivery and was a multi- term corresponding secretary for the Auxiliary Board. Roy and Lucienne Puckett also donate many hours each year. He works in the cath lab and she assists in the emergency room.
Ninety-two-years-young Jean
Ouellette has donated more than 21,618 hours to the hospital’s same-day surgery department. The Massachusetts native moved to the Coast 40 years ago and lives in Long Beach. Arriving at the hospital at 4 a.m. each morning, she sees patients before they go to surgery and tries to lower their level of anxiety.
“I try to distract them until they’re taken to surgery. It’s an instinctive thing,” she said. “I follow along with the pre-op nurses and ask what I
can do to help. I like to see everyone smile.”
Lauren Santa Cruz, manager of community and corporate relations, said, “Miss Jean sets a great example of what selflessness and a philanthropic attitude are all about. We all strive to follow her example.”
What’s Miss Jean’s secret? “It’s all about attitude, and it’s so rewarding being with everyone.”
A long time fitness instructor, Ouellette enjoys good health and swims as many days as she can. She
also enjoys reading and attending St. Thomas Catholic Church. She is the mother of two daughters, Phyllis and Leslie, and a son, Bruce Ouellette, M.D.
108 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • April 2018
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Barbara Martin, Flower Delivery.
Doris Weaver, Margie Young and Jean Ouellette.
Lucienne at the Emergency Department info desk and Roy Puckett in the Cath Lab waiting room.