By Troy Wells, President and CEO of Baptist Health
“Gratitude” has become a buzzword during the past decade or so, partly because of one of the concepts Gretchen Rubin popularized in her book The Happiness Project. Rubin contended that a key component of happiness is to make a conscious effort to acknowledge things you are grateful for.
Baptist Health could not be the system it is today if we had not been blessed by so many people who have given their time and support so generously.
I have to start with our Board of Trustees. These community leaders donate their time to bring their expertise to the system. They chart our course and ensure that we don’t lose sight of our mission.
Then there are the members of the Baptist Health Foundation Board of Trustees and the volunteers who help raise money for the system. The Foundation raised money with its first Bolo Bash to launch our highly successful transplant program and over the years they have raised millions of dollars to enable us to invest in cutting-edge technology, create new programs, and support outreach.
Equally important, the Foundation engages a lot of people in the community, which helps raise awareness about Baptist Health and all we have to offer.
Back in 1921, the original group of volunteers formed as the Women’s Auxiliary. I’m not sure if the early hospital would have survived without them. They raised money to support charity patients, provided linens for the hospital rooms and home-canned food, comforted patients and supported the hospital in countless other ways.
The Auxiliary sponsored the state’s first eye bank that launched our cornea transplant program. They organized the highly successful Play Hospital program that brought thousands of young children on site to learn what happens when you go to the hospital. And especially important as we celebrate our 100th anniversary, these women created the scrapbooks that document our history.
Volunteers have served as candy stripers, aides, greeters, hosts and hostesses, and countless other ways that support our healing ministry and make patients feel more comfortable.
I have no problem maintaining an attitude of gratitude because everywhere I look I see the impact our volunteers have on the success of Baptist Health. And I am incredibly thankful for each and every one of them.