Page 12 - Annual Report 2016-17

SUCCESS STORY

“Patients shared their “In 2009, when I was initially contemplating entering
experiences with me, and the eld of music therapy, and curious about the role of
offered me a window into Margaret, Emily music in oncology care (particularly from a
psychosocial perspective), I decided that I would like to
their lives.” become involved in volunteering for the Princess
Margaret Cancer Centre.
Working closely with patients, and side by side with
health care teams in order to support distress
SARAHROSE BLACK screening shaped my understanding of how
multifaceted and complex a cancer diagnosis can be,
MMT, MTA, RP particularly when considering anxiety, depression, and
ACCREDITED MUSIC THERAPIST & pain management.
REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST My time as a DART volunteer solidi ed my desire to
DEPARTMENT OF SUPPORTIVE CARE work in the eld of psychosocial oncology, so after
PRINCESS MARGARET CANCER CENTRE leaving the volunteer position to return to school, I
came back with a master’s degree in music therapy in
the hopes of creating an internship site at Princess
Margaret for my practicum placement.
Dr. Gary Rodin and the Department of Supportive Care
provided immense support in building the rst one
after I completed by internship. I now work full time
between Princess Margaret and Kensington Hospice,
providing inpatient music psychotherapy at bedside for
people at any age or stage of disease progression. I am
so grateful for the years spent as a volunteer, which
helped shape me into the clinician I am today.”

GIVING BACK

Over the years, Volunteer Resources at Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital have donated
funds, care packages, clothing, diversional activity carts, activity containers, books, magazines, DVDS, CDS and a
multitude of other items to inpatient units, outpatient clinics, waiting rooms, emergency departments, and
research areas. In 2016, the Emergency Departments at both hospitals were recipients of donations. Volunteer
Resources at Toronto General Hospital, donated $1000 which was used to purchase clothing for patients.
Volunteer Resources at Toronto Western Hospital donated $500 and clothing that volunteers brought in
throughout the year.

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