In honor of National Volunteer Week (April 15 - 21, 2018), we’re highlighting some of our volunteers and celebrating their service to REHAB and their efforts in helping to rebuild lives together.
Meet Brandon
Brandon is no stranger to lending a helping hand. Growing up, he always knew that he wanted to be part of the healthcare industry in some way. When Brandon was younger, his family moved from Waipahu to Pearl City to help take care of his sickly grandparents, who he credits as the inspiration for wanting to work in healthcare. “Because of them, I knew I wanted to help others” says Brandon. But It wasn’t until high school that he found a strong interest in physical therapy.
Brandon suffered several sports-related injuries in high school that required him to undergo surgery on his shoulder. Part of his recovery included rehabilitation, and this is how he discovered the field of physical therapy. “Ever since I’ve seen how physical therapy can positively impact others, I’ve set my goals on becoming one!” In his quest to become a Physical Therapist, Brandon wanted to gain more experience in the field and sought out volunteering opportunities. His parents suggested he check out REHAB as a place to gain more experience since his grandparents had received physical therapy services here. His family had a really positive experience and said it would be a great place to get more clinical and hands-on exposure to the physical therapy field.
Brandon was a volunteer in our inpatient areas on the third floor, which treats patients suffering from spinal cord injuries resulting from diving accidents, motorcycle collisions, car collisions and falls off ladders/trees. During this time, he had a front row seat to the field of physical therapy by shadowing a Physical Therapist and helping them during patient treatment sessions. Brandon’s favorite part about volunteering at REHAB is being a part of a patient’s treatment by participating in interactive exercises. “I’ve learned a lot while volunteering at REHAB. Working with the therapists has helped me to improve my knowledge of anatomy and has given me insight on why certain exercises are used when treating patients with nerve and motor control.”
Both the patients and therapists have been very encouraging and happy to help Brandon in learning more about their condition and the physical therapy field. “If you’re thinking about volunteering at REHAB, I’d really encourage you to do so! Not only will you be able to learn a lot about your field of choice, you’ll also be able to make a positive impact on the patients.”
Brandon is now on his next step toward becoming a Physical Therapist and has transitioned from being a volunteer to an employee. Congrats and welcome to the REHAB team as a Rehabilitation Technician, Brandon!
To learn more about volunteering at REHAB, visit https://www.rehabhospital.org/volunteer.