Pet Therapy Volunteers Provide Love on Leash at RWJ Hamilton

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton) celebrated national volunteer week by honoring the hospital's pet therapy volunteers.

Left to right: Janet Pica (Sebastian); Mickey Levitan (Lucky); Sue Werner (Cort); Carol Tischler (Shiloh); Mika Ryan (Hank); Maggie Kramer (Baxter); Joe Turner (Emma); Kathy Gabel, RWJ Hamilton volunteer coordinator; and Les Cubberly (Murphy and Missy). Therapy dogs and their owner-volunteers are regular visitors to the hospital campus, including the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Hamilton.

Researchers have proven that when dogs interact with patients, they help reduce stress-induced symptoms, distract from pain and illness, offer unconditional acceptance, reduce loneliness and bring out a person's nurturing instincts.

More About RWJ Hamilton
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton) is the only New Jersey hospital to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Located in Hamilton Township, NJ, the hospital is part of the RWJ Health System and Network and is affiliated with the University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey-RWJ Medical School and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

The RWJ Hamilton Health Care Corporation serves communities within a five-county area and includes an acute care hospital, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Hamilton, three affiliated medical groups, seven Lakeview Child Centers, and the RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness, home of a medically-based fitness center and the hospital's extensive community education program. Over 1,900 hospital employees and 650 medical staff physicians share RWJ Hamilton's passion for Excellence Through Service. For more information, visit www.rwjhamilton.org.