Part of an Optimal Healing Environment means we work with our community. This year we have had an amazing opportunity at Lee Health Cape Coral Hospital. One of our directors, Beth Dowd, recruited our hospital staff to become Big Brothers or Big Sisters for a program called Beyond School Walls. The idea of the program was to pair Cape Coral High School students with mentors who work at Cape Coral Hospital and we would meet together one day a month for the school year to develop friendships and to allow the students to have some time and exposure to the medical field.
 |
| Beth Dowd, RN Director of Emergency Services |
I was excited to do this as a grandmother of 14 and a mother of 6, I love being around young people. I signed up! This involved an interview to match me with my little and of course the background checks and making sure each mentor was appropriate. Each month we have had a half day session where we get to do a project or talk with our student and share ideas with them and they with us!
Here are some photos of our Big Brothers Big Sisters Beyond School Walls program from a recently day when we shared a CPR Friends and Family Course AND we had FOX 4 here to do a story on our program which is the first in the area! Great fun and learning by the whole group!
 |
| Rick Helvey Director of Environmental Services |
 |
| Stephanie Smoker, LPN Emergency Department |
 |
| Harry Alberti, MD VP Operations Chief Physician Executive |
 |
| Hanging out with my mannequin on CPR Day! |
I have loved participating in Big Brothers Big Sisters Beyond School Walls program this year. It has been great seeing the mentors <bigs> participating and having fun with their students <littles>. A great group of kids! We are looking forward to doing it again next year and expanding it with more of our great Lee Health Cape Coral Hospital employees!
