When patients, visitors and staff at Aultman Alliance Community Hospital (AACH) meet Joellen Phillips, they are often inspired by both her energy and her genuine interest in them.

For Joellen, caring for others is a passion rooted in her husband’s healthcare journey before he passed away 12 years ago. She wanted to extend to others the same compassion that her husband experienced during his illness.

Joellen volunteers in the AACH Same Day Surgery waiting area, assisting with registration, warmly greeting each patient’s family and friends and making sure they see their loved one’s attending surgeon after the procedure.

“I let people know that I am here if they have concerns during the surgery, and I will ty to answer their questions or find someone who can,” Joellen said. “Having spent time in these areas on a personal level, I know how stressful it can be.”

She is always open to listening to people who just want to talk. “I try to make sure that they are comfortable, and if they would like to chat, I am here,” Joellen said. “It is also nice when I can help people in the waiting area connect with one another, and they share their stories. Words of comfort, a smile and sometimes a laugh go a long way.”

Joellen approaches life with enthusiasm. Before retiring, she traveled throughout the United States for her career in information technology with Babcock & Wilcox. “I enjoyed traveling to remote offices and regional meetings,” Joellen said. “I loved the job, the people and the opportunities. You have to love what you do! I was very lucky to land where I did.”

An avid golfer, Joellen also adores animals. She once owned and cared for horses, and both cats and dogs have been beloved pets. “I often joke and say I feed whatever comes into my backyard,” she said. “I lived in a rural area for most of my adult life and miss it now.”

Joellen’s family is a central part of her life. Though she misses the family members who have passed away, she stays close and visits often with her sister and her family in Florida and her nephew in New Jersey.

Joellen cherishes close friendships, as well: “One of my very close friends has been in my life for 45 years … our friendship began when she said, ‘I love your shoes.’ Match made in heaven!”

For AACH, having Joellen as a volunteer is a match made in heaven, too. Joellen’s selfless service has made a lasting difference in the lives of the patients, families and staff she serves.