Community Corner

Ward Melville Student Recognized for Hospital Volunteer Work

Elizabeth O'Grady has been named Stony Brook's junior volunteer of the year.

A rising Ward Melville High School senior has been named Junior Volunteer of the Year at Stony Brook University Hospital, the hospital recently announced.

For Elizabeth O'Grady, 18, it's a little bit personal. She was born at Stony Brook, and spent time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, according to the hospital. She began volunteering with the children's hospital's Child Life department in 2012 and has since contributed more than 200 hours of service.

Kathy Kress, Assistant Director of Volunteer Services at SBUH, said Elizabeth is mature, responsible and "a pleasure to work with."

“In the playroom, she engages in various play activities with the patients and their siblings and goes out of her way to make sure that the children have whatever they need," Kress said. "She has been known to stay after her shift to find a missing game or DVD that a child has asked for."

Stony Brook relies on more than 700 volunteers each year to assist staff in caring for patients; to learn more about volunteer opportunities, call (631) 444-2610 or visit stonybrookmedicine.edu.


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