A typical college student has numerous options when choosing how best to use their “free time”— time away from their classes and homework.
For more than 20 Washington University students, their primary choice is to spend time with hospice residents through Bethesda Hospice Care, offering companionship, conversation and support.
Resident Jackie Whitworth, a resident living at Bethesda Dilworth, sees the impact firsthand. She regularly visits with four students, offering advice on college and life away from home.
“They always get a tidbit of wisdom from me,” Jackie says. “I’m thankful they come share their days with us.”
Bethesda’s relationship with Washington University spans years, but Volunteer Coordinator Melissa Helmkamp says interest from students has never been stronger. Growth has happened almost entirely by word of mouth.
“Right now, I have a wait list,” Melissa says. “We have 20 volunteers from WashU on board, and another 10 who want to sign on.”
None of the students receive course credit. They volunteer because they want to be here.
Leading the effort is Ethan Li, who joined three years ago as a freshman after taking a course on aging in American society. He graduated in December 2025, and now serves as team leader for the student volunteers.
“Most of the time when you speak with a resident, they basically become your friend,” he says. “You’re just chatting, playing cards, watching TV. Social interactions just make everyone feel good.”
Other students are quick to say the experience gives back as much as it asks. For Anya Mathur, volunteering evokes thoughts of her grandparents in India. For David Zhu, it’s the ability to build a relationship with them.
“It’s reciprocal,” David says. “You focus on your resident, and you derive this very intimate human connection. It’s very gratifying.”
Many of the students are preparing for careers in health care, and they say the hospice volunteer experience offers them insight into holistic care that cannot be learned in a classroom.
“Being well-knowledgeable is only half of being a physician,” says Kanishk Satish, who has been volunteering for just over one year. “This is where I can focus on becoming person-centered, which improves the quality of care for any future patient.”
Some students have even taken on “No One Dies Alone” vigil shifts, sitting with residents in their final hours when family cannot be present. Alex Zhang recalls a vigil when a resident’s son asked him to help perform a Peruvian spiritual ritual he had never heard of.
“This family is going through probably one of the darkest moments they’ll ever experience,” Alex says. “You set aside your own beliefs and commit to service.”
Ketan Tamirisa logged more than 100 volunteer hours last summer and spent his first vigil in a darkened room with an Elvis Presley record playing softly, sitting with a woman he had never met.
“There’s no right or wrong,” Ketan says. “As long as you’re doing the basic things to ensure they’re comfortable in their transition, that’s what matters. It’s a privilege to be there.”
Building on that experience, Ketan launched “Beyond the Charts,” modeled after the Veteran Administration’s “My Life, My Story” project. Ketan interviews residents about their upbringings, values and cherished memories, then compiles those stories into a document added to Bethesda’s care records so medical practitioners can see the human side of their patients.
“I want their legacies to live on,” Ketan says.
This level of commitment runs through the entire group. Marvin Zhang, an international student from Canada, spent months navigating the Social Security Administration process just to make sure he was cleared to volunteer.
“The day I got word that I was approved, I called to begin orientation,” he says. “I feel lucky to be here.”
“People don’t really understand the community that’s formed here and the bonds that you make,” Alex says. “I think we need to think of hospice as a celebration of life.”
Volunteers of all ages are always needed. For more information about volunteering, contact Melissa at 314-800-1992.
For more Bethesda stories, visit our blog.
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