VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
February 2023
Looking Ahead
with CEO,
Desiree Zapinsky, RN
Dear VMSN Friends and Supporters,
On behalf of Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada, I’d like to wish you a happy 2023! 2022 was a year of tremendous growth for our organization with almost double the number in staff which allowed us to serve over 1,000 patients and offer over $8 million dollars in services! This was a record we’d like to continue to build on in 2023.
As we look ahead, we are excited to bring forth more capacity to serve patients in all areas of maintaining wellness. This year our focus will be on expanding dental services with new equipment and additional staff, as well as the opening of the Maternity Care Clinic.
We are also planning new and exciting ways to engage with you. Stay tuned for notifications of FUNdraising events, renewed monthly giving programs, and novel ways to show our appreciation for our VMSN community!
I am truly grateful for your capacity for compassion, your belief in VMSN, and your readiness to do what you can to bring medical care to our community. Have a truly blessed year!
NEWS AT VOLUNTEERS OF MEDICINE OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
Philanthropy Year-End Summary
Ashley Miller, Philanthropy Manager
As we close out 2022, VMSN is so grateful for all the support we have received from our community. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we have been able to give care to over 1000 patients this year! VMSN has reopened our Dental Clinic with the help of UNLV Dental, increased our bilingual eligibility department, and expanded our services to include our new Maternity Care Clinic. Our recent community partners: Project Marilyn and Dignity Health (Diabetes) have allowed us to provide more holistic care of our patients by providing feminine hygiene products free of cost (Project Marilyn) and Spanish Diabetes Education, Management & Support classes for our patients and their families. Donations this year have also directly funded our Mental Health First Aid training sessions for our staff, students, and volunteers and provided critical supplies such as Epi-pens, adult diapers, and blood pressure cuffs to our clinic.
Toy Drive
Lariza Soto, Director of SBHIS
This Holiday season we received support from Roseman University, Volunteers, staff, and private Donors. Dr. Susan Nguyen has been a strong supporter these past couple of years. This year Roseman University adopted 12 VMSN families and generously provided personalized gifts. Roseman’s program, Empower, donated Christmas meals for 12 of our families as well. From the donations we received we were able to provide Christmas gifts to 100 families! Thank you to everyone that helped spread cheer and joy to our families this holiday season.
MESSAGE FROM ONE OF OUR PATIENTS…
“Thank you very much for providing us with medical, social and dental care that we could not obtain by our own means, for my husband and me it has been a great blessing that VMSN has accepted us as patients. Our life has been better and with fewer worries in the area of health. Thank you for the supply of medicines, exams, ultrasounds, and the x-rays benefit us a lot. When I arrive at the clinic the friendly treatment with the staff and each of those who work there is incredible and makes me feel comfortable and welcome. Thank you for being like this, thank you for giving us this peace and relief.
If I could give at least a little of how much I have received from you I would do so with joy, God always bless everyone, sponsors, benefactors, medical staff, nursing, assistants, dental, social service, pharmacy, nutritionists, and cleaning staff. Thank you all very much. May this next 2023 be of blessing and prosperity.”
Staff Spotlight:
Kerris Clark,
Volunteer Coordinator
If you’ve ever met Kerris, you know he’s energetic and exudes positivity. You get the sense that he’s on a mission. That mission is improving our patients’ lives by connecting volunteers with VMSN. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Kerris joined VMSN in October as our Volunteer Coordinator. After serving in the military and being medically discharged, he relocated to Las Vegas to begin his career in healthcare non-profit. Let’s get to know him!
VMSN: What inspires you to work at VMSN?
KC: VMSN is about giving free healthcare services to the underserved population; I couldn’t resist coming to VMSN and becoming a part of this mission. I get to share with volunteers and potential volunteers that through VMSN, they can make a tremendous difference in the community.
VMSN: What challenges are you currently facing in your current role?
KC: Not being able to bring in adequate number of volunteers consistently can be very stressful since that is what I’ve been hired to do! I’m looking forward to improving process flow and incorporating updated software to manage the large pool of volunteers we have but are not able to process because of inefficiencies.
VMSN: How do you define a successful day at VMSN?
KC: Bringing a full roster of volunteer scribes, interpreters, and front desk specialists to our providers is a successful day for me.
VMSN: What do you do to decompress from stress?
KC: I’ve enjoyed getting back in the boxing ring, a healthy escape from the trials of life.
VMSN: What book is on your nightstand?
KC: Kingdom Man by Tony Evans.
If you are interested in volunteering or know someone who is, feel free to reach out to Kerris at KClark@vmsn.org, 702-529-2657.
Volunteer Spotlight:
Ally Newton
When Dr. Steinberg of Steinberg Radiology asked Ally Newton if she would consider using her skills as an ultrasound technician to volunteer at VMSN, she promptly agreed. That was four years ago, and she hasn’t looked back, volunteering every Thursday ever since. Ms. Newton is currently a manager at Steinberg Radiology. She likes coming here to get away from the rat-race that comes with a managerial job. Interacting with VMSN patients is what really gives her satisfaction. “They are so appreciative of the services they’re getting and are always grateful, saying ‘Thank you. Thank you.’” An added benefit is that she gets to keep her technical skills sharp!
To learn about how you can volunteer at VMSN, click here, or contact Kerris Clark, Volunteer Coordinator, directly at KClark@vmsn.org, 702-529-2657. We would love to have you!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Stay tuned for details!
February 14 Valentine’s Cardiac Ask
March Monthly Giving Program Begins
April 22 Save the Date! Volunteer Appreciation Party
May Mental Health Month
Thank you NV Energy Foundation for your generoussponsorship of our Maternity Care Clinic. We are lookingforward to providing our community with signature VMSN Compassionate Care!