Meet Jessica Gagnon, Program Manager of Volunteer Services – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute shared on LinkedIn:
“Meet Jessica Gagnon, LCSW
Describe your role.
As program manager of Volunteer Services, I am responsible for the daily operations of on-site volunteer programs at Dana-Farber – Longwood. This includes the orientation, training, and supervision of more than 100 volunteers in our Ambassador, Resource Cart, and Junior Volunteer programs. I collaborate with staff who are interested in supervising volunteers, and work with our team to plan training sessions and workshops to ensure our volunteers provide patients and families with the best experience possible.
What brought you to Dana-Farber?
I started as an intern with Volunteer Services while I was earning my master’s degree in social work. I focused on case management for people experiencing homelessness in Boston during the pandemic, where I saw firsthand the impact that equitable, supportive care could have on my clients. I wanted to explore a career in health care where I could be part of a team that does their best to provide patients and families with a supportive experience. As soon as I interviewed with Maritza Nassif, MEd, and Patricia Stahl, MEd, who are both leaders in Volunteer Services and Patient Programs, I knew I wanted to work with and learn from them.
What do you love most about your work?
Being with our volunteers. Every volunteer comes with their own story of what brings them to Dana-Farber. Some were treated here, some work in cancer research, and some are students interested in a health care career. Everyone brings passion and empathy. It’s an honor to partner with them and provide opportunities to share their skills, compassion, and stories. As I have learned, we get just as much out of this work as our patients do.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud every time a volunteer tells me about a patient who expressed their gratitude with them or shared something they learned from this role. I feel pride every time I walk through the Institute and see the comfort and joy our volunteers bring to those around them. Whether they are escorting a patient to an appointment, providing a hand massage to someone having their first chemotherapy, or talking with a caregiver about how to access a supportive resource, I know the volunteers’ impact is deeply felt.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I spend my free time with my friends and family. I love to travel and explore new places!
More.”
Source: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/LinkedIn
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is a leading institution for cancer treatment and research. It was founded by Sidney Farber on 1947. Currently, the Institute has over 5,000 staff, faculty, and clinicians on board. They manage in excess of 640,000 outpatient visits each year, oversee more than 1,000 hospital discharges annually, and are actively involved in over 1,100 ongoing clinical trials.
OncoDaily
As of 2023, Dana-Farber is ranked as the #4 cancer hospital globally. Dana-Farber’s research contributions include the development of Gleevec, a highly successful treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia.