SMMC Names Larry O'Brien the Lauren Shulman Volunteer of the Year

05/07/2012

At an annual luncheon given in their honor last week, Southern Maine Medical Center (SMMC) officially thanked their volunteers for contributing more than 33,000 hours in 2011. During the ceremony Lawrence "Larry" O’Brien was recognized with the prestigious Lauren Shulman Volunteer of the Year award. This nomination-based honor is bestowed on the volunteer who best exemplifies "the volunteer spirit," with enthusiasm and support for the organization, as well as dependability and contributions of time and energy.

"Congratulations to Larry for receiving this well-deserved recognition," said SMMC president & CEO Ed McGeachey. "He truly cares, and that shows in everything Larry does for both SMMC’s patients and staff. We are very fortunate to have many dedicated volunteers like Larry who are vital members of the SMMC team."

Larry has been a volunteer at SMMC for six years, contributing over 2,600 hours of his time to the front desk and delivering patient mail. In addition to receiving the Presidential Service Award multiple times, Larry also earned a spot on the 2012 Maine Honor Roll, the Governor’s award for volunteers who devoted 500 or more hours to serving their community last year. During the annual luncheon, awards were presented to numerous volunteers for years of service and hours gifted. Presidential Award winners and members of the 2012 Maine Honor Roll were also announced.

Men and women from all parts of York County volunteer at SMMC. Whether they help a few hours a month or several days a week, volunteers provide a vital link between the medical center and the people it serves. Some volunteers work in areas where they are in direct contact with patients, others are involved in "behind the scenes" activities which enhance the care provided by the hospital. SMMC volunteers are important members of the hospital's health care team. The age of SMMC volunteers spans almost an entire century, from teenagers to those in their nineties. For more information on volunteering, call 283-7225.

About Southern Maine Medical Center
Southern Maine Medical Center (SMMC) is a national award-winning healthcare system including a medical center offering excellent clinical care and a multi-specialty physician services group. SMMC features Maine's newest state-of-the-art emergency and fast track care as well as a full range of inpatient and outpatient services at its 150-bed acute care medical center. SMMC's physician services offers high quality medical care through offices located in Biddeford, Kennebunk, Old Orchard Beach, and Saco and a wide array of outpatient services at its diagnostic and therapy centers in Saco, Kennebunk, and Biddeford. SMMC is Joint Commission accredited, state-licensed, and is a member of the MaineHealth system. To learn more, visit smmc.org.