Volunteers Make a Difference

Anthony Delgado Retired Supreme Court Officer/Captain Music Therapy Volunteer

Anthony Delgado began his working life as a music teacher in the New York City public schools. When the fiscal crisis of the 1970s decimated many public school music programs, Mr. Delgado took the exam to become a court officer. He ended his second career 24 years later as a captain in the New York State Supreme Court, Queens County. But he didn't let his retirement (due to a disability) stop him from serving -- in August 2005, he became an Memorial Sloan-Kettering volunteer, specializing in music therapy.

Three times a week, Mr. Delgado visits patients in their rooms where he plays both guitar and electric piano and sings. "Sometimes patients may sing along, or they may even doze off," Mr. Delgado said. "But they always have a smile on their faces."

He also leads the Memorial Sloan-Kettering choir, a group he helped to establish in October 2005. With a membership that includes Memorial Sloan-Kettering staff, patients, and volunteers, the choir meets every Wednesday in the Patient Recreation Department for rehearsals. They have already performed three "mini-concerts" -- during the Christmas season, on Valentine's Day, and on St. Patrick's Day, serenading families in the lobby of Memorial Hospital and the lunchtime crowds in Memorial Sloan-Kettering's cafeteria.

"It fills me with joy and happiness to help others," Mr. Delgado observed.

Paul Lafkowitz, DDS Endodontist Patient-to-Patient Volunteer

Diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in July 1999, Paul Lafkowitz was treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering with chemotherapy and radiation. Two years later, a recurrence of the disease required him to undergo an autologous stem cell transplant, also performed at the Center. As part of his pretransplant orientation, he met with two volunteers who had undergone transplantation. "I was so impressed with the orientation and with the volunteers that I said 'When I'm out of this and have recovered, I want to volunteer,'" Dr. Lafkowitz recalled.

He has now been a volunteer for two years, meeting with patients in sessions that are held on the first Thursday of every month. All patients preparing for autologous transplantation (transplants using their own stem cells) are invited. The gatherings include social workers, a nurse practitioner, and two volunteers.

"Sloan-Kettering gave me my life back. And the volunteers made my experience going through the transplant that much easier. It's my turn to give something back," said Dr. Lafkowitz. "I'm able to tell patients 'You're going to go through a lot, and you may not be the happiest camper for a while -- but you are going to get past this.' They can look at me and see that I'm able to do all the things I did before."

Alison Santopolo First-Year Medical Student, Weill Medical College of Cornell University Pediatrics Volunteer

Alison Santopolo is a Center veteran. While a student at Hewlett High School on Long Island, she participated in "Cabaret Night," which raised funds for pediatric cancer research. After those performances, the students brought the shows to Memorial Sloan-Kettering where they performed for pediatric patients and their families. "I felt a connection with the patients and staff, so I asked about summer positions," said Ms. Santopolo. She interned in the Child Life department during her senior year, and worked as a session assistant in the Department of Pediatrics during the summer following her freshman year at Cornell University. In August 2005 she started medical school -- and began volunteering at Memorial Sloan-Kettering.

Ms. Santopolo visits Pediatrics once a week where, as she characterizes it, she "goes with the flow." This means she may do anything from helping to occupy children waiting to have a procedure to visiting patients in their rooms, bringing toys, games, puzzles, and companionship.

"Sometimes people will ask if it is sad for me to spend time with children who have cancer. But to me the atmosphere in Pediatrics is positive and optimistic. The kids are amazingly brave. And everyone who works there bends over backwards for the patients and their families. They're all an inspiration to me -- and remind me of why I'm going into medicine."