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Driving into the downtown offices, I could already feel the stress building—an intense, multi-day audit from our regulators loomed. Every decision made by our teams would be scrutinized against rigid requirements. I braced myself for what I expected to be an unpleasant, exhausting experience. Never could I have imagined that a single encounter during that audit would reshape my life.
The audit unfolded just as anticipated—tense and meticulous. Yet amidst the seriousness, I received an unexpected gift. During a break outside the conference room, the head of the audit team approached me. She was a physician, and perhaps, like me, she was searching for a friendly face in an otherwise formal setting. We began to chat, and that’s when she told me about the Painted Turtle Camp.
It might have been a strategic move on her part—my credentials were printed right on my packet: board-certified in Emergency Medicine and Palliative Medicine, with a clinical focus on caring for vulnerable populations. Whether it was fate or a well-placed referral, that conversation opened the door to an incredible opportunity.
Becoming a volunteer medical provider at the Painted Turtle Camp has grounded me in ways I never anticipated.
The Gifts of Camp
The benefits of my time at camp are immense. There’s the obvious joy of helping children with serious medical conditions simply be kids. Watching them laugh, play, and connect with each other—free from the burdens of their diagnoses—is deeply rewarding. But I’d be remiss not to acknowledge what I personally gain from the experience.
Volunteering provides a powerful antidote to the stress and anxiety that so often define today’s healthcare landscape. There is an exhilaration in watching a camper proudly sit atop a horse for the first time or dive into arts and crafts with unrestrained enthusiasm. These moments offer more than just joy—they offer perspective.
Research supports this experience. A longitudinal study of nearly 70,000 individuals in the United Kingdom, surveyed over an 18-year span, found that people who volunteered were more satisfied with their lives and reported better health. Even more telling, those who volunteered at least once a month showed greater mental well-being than those who volunteered less frequently—or not at all.
Source: How Volunteering Can Help Your Mental Health - Greater Good Science Center, Berkeley
Volunteering is highly correlated with happiness. It enhances life satisfaction, improves mental health, and helps when the weight of the world feels particularly heavy. It nurtures the self, reminds us of our purpose, and rekindles the reasons we entered medicine in the first place.
Finding Purpose Again
Dedicating time to a cause that matters deeply is not just fulfilling—it’s essential. For many of us facing burnout, volunteering is a way to reconnect with the core values that led us to care for others. It might look different for everyone, but one truth remains: giving back changes lives—starting with our own.
To learn more about Painted Turtle Camp and volunteering as a medical professional: www.thepaintedturtle.org
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