Sun, Aug 16, 2026 at 12:00 AM

Students spend summer volunteering in hospitals, learn about healthcare

High school and college students have made their mark on the workforce at Marshall Medical Centers this summer with more than a dozen young men and women split between two campuses. Some volunteered in the Wellness Centers while many worked alongside nurses in the ER. Others provided information and direction to hospital visitors while several had the opportunity to work on patient floors. Wherever they carry out their duties, they provide a helping hand to busy staffers and get the chance to see first-hand what it’s like to serve in a healthcare setting.

• Allison Williams – College Student

Allison Williams is a senior at UAB majoring in biomed. She plans to apply to the physician assistant program and hopes to be accepted into the program at UAB so she can stay in Alabama.

Allison is very accomplished for a 21-year-old. In addition to going to classes all week in Birmingham and completing EMT training during the past year, she has come home to Union Grove on weekends and shown up religiously every Sunday morning to volunteer in the ER at Marshall North. Surprisingly, she likes the craziness of the ER where she helps with triage and EKGs.

“It can be literally anything,” she says. “It’s always something different.”

She enjoys the pace of Sundays because of the unexpected. At any time, the emergency staff can see anywhere from two to 32 patients in an hour.

Allison started volunteering last summer. She has logged 121 hours and counting. What does she like about it?

“It’s been a lot of education. I’ve learned to interact with patients. I’ve learned skills. It’s a good way to get my foot in the door. I’ve learned the ins and outs.”

• Jaxon Dendy – College Student

Jaxon Dendy was the first student to land a volunteer spot in the dialysis unit at Marshall South. He started last fall and carved out as many hours as he could at the hospital while taking full time classes at UAH toward his chemical engineering degree. He also works weekends at Longhorn Steakhouse in Albertville.

He trained as a tech so he was able to set up and break down dialysis machines, clean stations, monitor vitals and stock supplies. The portable machine was taken to ICU where he was able to help set up for dialysis patients there.

“Volunteering gave me patient interaction, which I love to do,” he says. “I came in knowing I wanted to go to medical school. This solidified it.”

• Zander Otinger – College Student

Zander Otinger, a pre-med junior at The University of Alabama, has spent his summer volunteering alongside the nursing staff at Marshall South. It’s been very valuable to watch acute care nurses dispensing medication to patients and helping patient care assistants take vital signs, check blood sugar and even getting drinks and doing some cleaning.

“I’ve enjoyed it,” he says. “It’s been very rewarding to help people.”

Sometimes students volunteer at the hospital in an effort to find out if a medical career is the right path for them. After shadowing physicians in the ER and the OR, Zander says he is certain of the road ahead.

“It has reinforced my career path.”

• Gabriella Gaspar – College Student

Gabriella Gaspar started volunteering at Marshall South in her senior year of high school. She worked in the Wellness Center and Women’s Services, where she used her bilingual abilities to assist non-English patients. She earned a scholarship from the hospital Auxiliary for her first year at The University of Alabama, where she is pursuing a degree in psychology. She plans to enter med school after graduation.

Gabriella moved up to a position at the Information Desk this summer, where her sister also works one day a week. Helping visitors find their way through the hospital is very rewarding.

“To me it is a privilege,” she says. “Being able to connect with people and help them through the hospital taught me empathy, to be patient, compassionate and to advocate for people.”

• Jonna Shell – College Student

Jonna Shell spent her summer manning the Information Desk at Marshall South where her big smile welcomed visitors to the hospital. Her favorite part is seeing newborns being wheeled outside for the first time heading home.

“I love it,” she says. “It’s been so much fun.”

Jonna lives in Albertville and also works part-time at the Boaz Public Library. She goes back for her sophomore year to Snead State Community College a little closer to being able to decide on a career path. She hopes to attend UAB after graduating. Healthcare is a definite contender, which was reinforced by volunteering in the hospital.

“I’ll just see which door opens for me when I get there,” she says.

• Libby Kate Talton – College Student

Libby Kate Talton spent the summer volunteering in the Labor & Delivery department at Marshall South, where her mother works as an anesthetist. Libby Kate, a 2025 graduate of Sardis High School, assisted the nursing staff. Now she is headed to nursing school at Jacksonville State University to prepare for her own career in the medical field.

“I liked it,” she says. “I learned about how it works in that department.”

• Lizbeth Rodriguez – College Student

Lizbeth Rodriguez assisted PCAs at Marshall South through the summer as they cared for patients and kept them comfortable. She said the work really opened her eyes to the various jobs employees do in the hospital. She is returning to Snead Community College as a sophomore as she pursues a career in radiology.

“I’ve really enjoyed it,” she says.

• Evelyn Cuc Tajiboy – High School Student

Evelyn Cuc Tajiboy signed up as a hospital volunteer in an effort to decide whether she wants to pursue a career in education or healthcare. She worked alongside patient care assistants helping with supplies and linens, and observed nurses.

Entering her senior year at Douglas High School, she now has a better understanding of what the world of medical care looks like from the inside.

“It allowed me to see deeper into what healthcare workers do,” she says. “It helped me see the care needed. I enjoyed volunteering.”

• Christina Williams – High School Student

Christina Williams is a home-schooled student who lives in Union Grove. She wanted more interaction with people when she decided to apply as a junior volunteer at Marshall North in February. She has served 129 hours in the Wellness Center dusting, cleaning and stocking towels. She also has assisted in the volunteer office filing, sorting supplies, helping stock in the gift shop and even filling in on the Information Desk.

“It’s been very fun,” she says. “I’ve built relationships with everyone. My confidence level is so much higher. I’ve learned people skills. I enjoy having my own responsibilities.”

After graduating, Christine hopes to go to Auburn University’s veterinary school. She eventually wants to own a farm with a rescue center, saying she loves animals more than people.

• Catarina Nguyen – High School Student

Catarina Nguyen is a junior at Arab High School. She became a junior volunteer last summer and has worked 250 hours. She helps the staff at the Wellness Center clean, organize and keep linens stocked. She also has put in some volunteer hours in the emergency department at Marshall North.

Catarina’s goal is to become a geriatrician, which is a family physician specializing in older adults. In addition to her time spent on the Marshall North campus, Catarina also volunteers at a nursing home.

“It has really meant a lot to me,” she says of her work at the Wellness Center. “The employees are hard-working and caring. That means a lot.”

• Pablo Garcia – High School Student

Pablo Garcia used his Saturdays to volunteer at the Wellness Center at South while on summer break from Geraldine High School, where he is about to start his senior year. He wants to be a doctor someday, and maybe even a surgeon.

For now though, he appreciates the opportunity to work with the gym staff to clean and sanitize equipment, organize and restock supplies. He sees it as good experience for his future education.

“I’m doing something that really helps others.”

• Reece Gilbert – High School Student

Reece Gilbert, a junior at Arab High School, has volunteered in the Wellness Center at Marshall Medical North for six months. The experience has reinforced his plan to pursue a career in healthcare – specifically as a physician specializing in maternal fetal medicine.

“I never thought I’d like doing free work so much but I do,” he says. “It made me open my eyes and say, ‘I really want to do healthcare.’”

After school and during the summer, Reece helped keep physical therapy rooms clean, sprayed down the pool and wiped down weights. He calls it good experience and recommends more students take advantage of the opportunity to volunteer.

“Volunteer work can really show you what it’s like to work in the healthcare field.”

• Misenline Ceneus – High School Student

Misenline Ceneus is a junior at Boaz High School. Her career goal is to be an ultrasound tech. She also works for the Boaz school system. She began volunteering in the nursing unit at Marshall South in the summer of 2025 and moved to Marshall North ER this summer where she helped triage patients, changed beds and stocked supplies.

Volunteer applications can be found online at mmcenters.com. Click on the About tab then Volunteering. For more information, call the volunteer office at (256)571-8010 or email rose.myers@mmcenters.com.