Bringing diplomacy to the emergency room

Glendale resident Esther Levine didn’t want to sit at home, even after retiring twice.

Levine, 88, retired from a 20-year-career in banking and decided to go back to work again in the industry, performing a range of tasks from bank teller to clerk for the next 21 years.

After the second retirement she found volunteer work at Glendale Adventist Medical Center.

“I want to be active,” said Levine, the mother of two, grandmother of six and great-grandmother of 17. “I’m not one to stay home.”

Levine learned that the hospital was looking for an ambassador to the emergency room department.

The ambassador is required to greet people, comfort them and help them get registered to see a doctor or a nurse for medical treatment.

The duties also include directing the public to other departments or locations at the hospital.

“I like being with people and being able to help people,” Levine said.

Levine has been the emergency room ambassador for nearly four years and has accrued about 1,500 volunteer service hours.

She volunteers two days a week when she isn’t busy visiting friends during her free time.

“Esther is just like some of the other volunteers,” said Liz Mirzaian, volunteer services director. “She is dedicated and loves coming here.”

Levine is also the first person to take the role of emergency room ambassador since the position was established in 2002, Mirzaian said.

After Levine, 26 volunteers have also served as ambassadors. But that number has dropped down to about three, Mirzaian added.

Whether it’s comforting people during an emergency or entertaining children with coloring books or stickers, Levine is modest about the contribution she makes to the hospital.

“I don’t think I’m doing anything special,” Levine said.

“I just try to make people comfortable.”

Levine also helps orient new volunteers to the role of ambassador.