On average, every year the fellowship and residency programs at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center are the educational hosts to fledgling physicians hailing from over twenty different countries. While our primary responsibility is to help these physicians become the board-certified practitioners they aspire to be, we are also greatly interested in helping them become intimately connected to the greater Cleveland community they call home while training here. We firmly believe that physicians are more aware of the variety of circumstances affecting the health and lives of their patients when they are engaged with the community they practice in.

Every two months our fellows and residents are presented with an opportunity to get outside the walls of our medical center and volunteer for a wide variety of causes. Our recent ventures into the surrounding community have taken us to the Malachi House, the Cleveland Botanical Garden and the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.

On a beautiful early fall day we assisted the Malachi House in their efforts to serve the terminally ill who lack funds and/or an available caregiver at the end of their lives. We spruced up the grounds around this kindly home in the heart of downtown Cleveland and left a little something beautiful behind to help all those who work and live there celebrate and enjoy the season of harvest and thankfulness.

During the midst of the festive holiday season we helped the Cleveland Botanical Garden spread cheer at their fourth annual winter spectacular, Glow. We greeted visitors to Glow Village, bagged candy at the Candy Cart, assisted children as they built their own gingerbread houses and crafted something special for the holiday season in the Evergreen Adventures area.

The cold February temperatures didn’t keep us from getting out and supporting the charitable efforts of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. On a weekday evening we worked in the warehouse with inspecting, sorting, and repacking six pallets filled with a variety of non-perishable food items. These items were then redistributed to area food pantries and needy families.

Our collaboration in the workplace expands our minds. Our collaboration in volunteering expands our hearts.