Pulse

Fall 2017

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torrancememorial.org PULSE | 25 H E A RT B E AT S A s Jack Ramsey sat in Torrance Memorial Medical Center's Grand Lobby playing piano, a woman in a wheelchair and her companion stopped to listen. e com- panion asked if Ramsey could play "You Are My Sunshine," the woman's favorite song. Ramsey, who oen performs by ear, was happy to oblige. As he played, he saw that the woman in the wheelchair had tears in her eyes. "Sometimes songs can bring tears of sadness," he says. "Other times they bring tears of joy. It warms my heart to know I'm connecting with people." Ramsey is one of more than 60 musicians who volunteer their time as part of Torrance Memorial Medical Center's Piano Volunteer Program, to brighten the days of those who visit, receive care and work at the medical center. e program started in 2000, when former Palos Verdes Peninsula residents Dr. and Mrs. Warren Hoff- man donated a piano. Today volunteers perform in both the Lundquist Tower's Grand Lobby and the North Lobby of the Transitional Care Unit. In a typical week, music can be heard in both locations for eight or more hours on weekends and about six hours on weekdays. Dan Platus saw an article in the local newspaper seeking volunteers, soon aer Torrance Memorial re- ceived the piano donation. He has been playing there ever since. "I'm retired, and I enjoy doing it," says Platus, an engineer-scientist who worked for more than three decades at e Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo and has numerous publications and patents to his cred- it. "Music can be very therapeutic." Platus felt strongly enough about the Piano Vol- unteer program that he has served as its chair for about the last 15 years. In addition to playing twice a week, he coordinates the schedule for the many volunteers who share their musical talents. Platus also auditions every prospective pianist to ensure he or she has suitable skills. Volunteers must commit to playing at least one hour per week for a year's time. Based on their tenure, the volunteers seem to en- joy their work. Many have been playing at the Medical Center for more than 14 years. Pianist Paula DiFiore has been with the program since its inception. Many volunteer pianists are retirees like Ramsey, who worked as a teacher and administrator for 32 years. Others are high school students who volunteer on evenings or weekends. Rachelle Gonzales began volunteering during her junior year at Torrance High School. She initially volunteered for the Escort Ser- vices Program and was encouraged to use her musical talents to benefit others. "e powerful thing for me is the reactions I get from people who listen," she says. "One time when I was playing in the Transitional Care Unit, a female patient, her adult son and her granddaughter were listening. e son asked if I could play "You Raise Me Up," by Josh Groban. He sang along, and it was fantastic. His mom teared up and said, 'at made me feel so much better.'" Gonzales took time off from volunteering while at- tending UCLA, where she majored in microbiolog y, immunolog y and molecular genetics. She returned to playing at Torrance Memorial aer graduating and is currently applying to medical school. "I've wanted to be a doctor for a long time, and this experience was pivotal for me because it shaped the kind of doctor I'd like to be," Gonzales says. "It's taught me that medicine is about caring for the whole person. It's taught me the importance of actively lis- tening to the patient and making sure not only their physical needs but their spiritual and mental needs are also fulfilled." Gonzales adds, and her fellow piano volunteers can attest, "ere is a musical dimension to healing." "THIS EXPERIENCE SHAPED THE KIND OF DOCTOR I'D LIKE TO BE. IT'S TAUGHT ME THAT MEDICINE IS ABOUT CARING FOR THE WHOLE PERSON. IT'S TAUGHT ME THE IMPORTANCE OF ACTIVELY LISTENING TO THE PATIENT AND MAKING SURE NOT ONLY THEIR PHYSICAL NEEDS BUT THEIR SPIRITUAL AND MENTAL NEEDS ARE ALSO FULFILLED." For more information about the Piano Volunteer Program, call 310-517-4752.

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