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When Anne Rice first saw a volunteer recruitment ad in her local newspaper more than a decade ago, she didn’t hesitate.
When Lifin Parakkal Thomas first walked through the doors of Niagara Health in 2013 as a volunteer, he never imagined he’d one day be receiving an award for excellence. But more than a decade later, this internationally-educated nurse practitioner is now a vital member of the internal medicine team — and the recipient of the 2025 Rising Star Award.
At McMaster’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine Niagara Regional Campus, medical students don’t just learn anatomy and diagnostics - they learn what it means to be part of a community. For the past eight years, Dr. Amanda Bell has led the campus with a key goal: to shape doctors who are not only clinically excellent, but also grounded, compassionate and deeply connected to the people they serve.
As Manager of Geriatrics, Stefanie Irish doesn’t just oversee patient care - she champions a mindset shift. “We are conditioned to think older adults are burdens. But in fact, they’re people with rich lives, resilience and so much wisdom. Our job isn’t just to treat their medical needs - it’s to see and support the person behind them.”
Now serving as Clinical Manager of Surgical Services at Niagara Health, Pataunia reflects on how a supportive, inclusive environment has allowed her to lead with authenticity – and become the kind of visible, empowered leader she once needed.
In his role as a Switchboard Operator, Corey Dutcher coordinates some of Niagara Health’s most critical communications. This includes rapid response calls, code alerts and urgent family connections — working around the clock to ensure seamless internal coordination.
The St. Catharines Hospital Auxiliary, Canada’s oldest hospital auxiliary, is proud to celebrate a remarkable milestone—160 years of volunteer service and fundraising in support of healthcare in Niagara.
When Julia Spafford wheels the comfort cart through the hospital hallways, she’s not just offering patients a blanket or a word puzzle. She's delivering something far more powerful: human connection.
On May the Fourth, the Ronald McDonald Family Room (RMFR) at the Marotta Family Hospital was transformed – but not by Jedi mind tricks.
For Moises Vasquez, volunteering in the Niagara Health Emergency Department (ED) is more than an act of service. It’s a way to stay connected to his roots and continue providing patient care, even while not yet practicing his profession in Canada.
