Together, the 23 student volunteers at Summa's St. Thomas Hospital and the 73 student volunteers at Summa's Akron City Hospital, have accumulated 5,441 hours of volunteer work from January through September 30, 1999. Many of the students, including Darrow who has accumulated lifetime hours of 232, have also volunteered at Summa Health System in previous years. One of the goals of our department is provide a strong foundation for continuation of lifelong service. We hope they will make volunteering a natural part of their lives.
Many students begin volunteering to fulfill their community service requirement for graduation.
However, a significant number of students continue to volunteer beyond their required hours because they really enjoy it. Summa Health System is a 963-bed nonprofit health care delivery network created by the 1989 merger of Akron City Hospital and St. Thomas Hospital. Akron's only level I trauma center is also a leader in maternity services providing level III perinatal care. Summa is a member of The Cleveland Clinic Health System and, along with 15 other leading health care organizations, is a member of the Cleveland Health Network, the largest and most comprehensive provider network based in Northern Ohio.