As a new hire, Chandra Bishun-Freeman, Clinical Oncology Associate at the Derald H. Ruttenberg Treatment Center of The Tisch Cancer Institute, was wondering how she might align her desire to expand personal contact with patients and co-workers while continuing to learn the ropes of her new position. Chandra decided volunteering would be the perfect opportunity for her to utilize some free time, serve the Mount Sinai community, and start making connections between her job and her passion for health care. So this past August, she signed up to volunteer for the Chi Time program at The Mount Sinai Hospital, and learned much from a dedicated volunteer, Paul Carbone.
The purpose of Chi Time is to support Mount Sinai employees and is available at six of Mount Sinai’s hospitals. The program engages staff, utilizing a mobile cart that is brought to their work areas. Contents of the cart include herbal and decaffeinated teas and healthy packaged snacks, aromatherapy with lavender, rose, eucalyptus, and other scents. If the space permits, calming background music and dimmed lighting are also provided.
Paul is an Associate Chaplain at NYU Langone Health, where he ministers to seriously ill patients and their families. Three years ago he learned about Chi Time at Mount Sinai through the One Spirit Seminary in in midtown Manhattan, where he became an interfaith/interspiritual minister. Paul became a volunteer at Mount Sinai because he was intrigued and excited about the opportunity to serve health care workers in this unique way.
On her first day, Chandra was assigned to shadow Paul. “Paul enthusiastically told me about the program and what his role entails as a volunteer,” she says. “I remember, later in the day telling my husband that Paul acted and moved with the passion and energy of someone brand new to the job. He was so gracious as he played his part, serving others with refreshing tea and a snack bar. Within minutes, staff members were pouring into the lounge looking forward for this moment in a happy, relaxed, joyful, and thankful mood. I saw moments of warmth, comradery, and care.”
Paul exemplifies the compassion and commitment volunteers bring to their missions, sometimes providing emotional and spiritual support to Mount Sinai staff, especially if there has been the loss of a patient or a staff member.
”Service work can drain energy,” he explains. “Giving these workers back energy, in the form of a snack or aromatherapy, an encouraging word, or creating a calm space, can help restore their energy. Helping them regain a bit of balance energizes me.”
Maggie Keogh, Director of the Chi Time program, thinks of Paul as a consistent, reassuring presence and a rich resource. “Simply put,” she says, “He’s amazing.” Chandra concurs, “I could not think of a better role model than Paul for embodying the essence of giving back. I can’t wait to work with him again.”