Life of Service

Mercy-that's my hospital." That's a comment you often hear in the community.

The bond between Mercy and those who choose it as their hospital can be very strong, with many memories that create a special sense of belonging and a connection for life.

During a recent visit with longtime Mercy volunteer Jan Kazimour, Jan shared the story of her special connection with Mercy. Over the years, she has given countless hours of community service to the hospital.

Perhaps it was just meant to be as she, along with her brother, husband Bob Kazimour and their two daughters, were born at Mercy. She found her niche of service through a Junior League commitment that required involvement in community service work. Jan remembers that she just happened to choose Mercy.

"I had two young children at home and couldn't commit, at that point in my life, to a regular volunteer schedule. I was working in admissions in the old 1903 building and they knew they could just call when they needed me," Jan says.

Her service to Mercy grew and, since 1967, she's logged over 11,830 hours of volunteer service in Admissions, the Emergency Department, the 10th Street Information Desk and by giving hospital tours. Now, you'll find her in the Emergency Department in the morning and at the main information desk in the afternoon every Wednesday. She noted "I always look forward to my Mercy day and the new challenges that it brings."

Side-by-side with her volunteer service, she also has been a member of the Mercy Board of Trustees for 26 years and a member of the Mercy Foundation Board since 2004. As a Trustee, she serves on various committees, including Marketing, Ethics, Fiscal Management, Allied Health Practitioners and Corporate Compliance. Her volunteerism doesn't stop at Mercy, but stretches out into the community, where she currently is serving on nine other boards. In addition to her volunteer commitments at Mercy, she and Bob have generously provided financial support for the work and mission of the hospital.

Some of Jan's fondest memories of Mercy came from her relationships with Sr. Mary Lawrence Hallagan and Sr. Augustine Roth, both of whom she considered to be very wise and truly inspiring women.
Jan also marvels at the growth in the facilities, the incorporation of advanced technology made by the hospital and, most importantly, the ongoing commitment to every aspect of care.

There's a sense of pride and connection when she says, "The Mercy Touch® is always there-that sense of caring and professionalism that can be identified and quantified in so many ways. Mercy truly is here for us for life."