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Yasmin Ahmed
August 14, 2015
Clinical Practicum II
Service Learning Project
For my service learning project, I decided to volunteer at Don Monti Cancer Survivors
Day. My clinical site, Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJMC), in New Hyde Park, New
York, sponsored this event. The event was held on Saturday, June 6, 2015 from 12pm-2pm in the
hospitals outdoor parking lot where a large tent was set up. I volunteered from 9am-2pm. I was
assigned to the handicap parking lot area. As guests arrived, I provided wheelchair assistance and
brought guests to the registration table. Once they registered, I guided the guests to a table inside
the tent. When the event was over, I provided wheelchair assistance to bring the guests back to
their vehicles. About 2,000 cancer survivors from the North Shore-LIJ Health System attended
this event. The hospital president, Michael Dowling was in attendance, along with other officials
from the health system. Guest speakers included Caroline Monti Saladino, Suzanne Ludlum, and
keynote speaker Mark Herzlich. Guests enjoyed lunch at the event while listening to the
speakers.
Guest speaker Caroline Monti Saladino was presented with the NS-LIJ Compassionate
Care Award. Mrs. Saladino heads the Don Monti Memorial Foundation. Her parents started the
foundation in 1972, in honor of their son Don, who died of acute myeloblastic leukemia. The
foundation has raised over $42 million in support of patient care, research, and education.1 The
next speaker was Suzanne Ludlum, a nurse practitioner from within the health system. Ms.
Ludlum shared her cancer story with all in attendance. She battled ovarian, endometrial, and
breast cancer. She shared words of encouragement and also reminded everyone to stay informed
regarding their diagnoses.
The keynote speaker for this event was Mark Herzlich, a linebacker for the New York
Giants football team. Mr. Herzlich won the Super Bowl in 2012, however the road to that victory
was not an easy one. In 2009, Mark was diagnosed with a Ewings sarcoma, which is a form of
bone cancer. Marks doctors told him that this diagnosis would end his career. This was shocking
to Mark, as football was the thing he loved to do most. He recalled his father saying to him after
the diagnosis, Lets do this. He talked about his treatments, which were a difficult and long
journey. Despite what his doctor had told him, Mark was able to slowly regain his strength and

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he returned to the football field to do what he loves. When he won the Super Bowl in 2012, he
said that his father ran onto the field and whispered in his ear, We did it.
This event was a great experience for me. As dosimetrists, we rarely get the chance to see
how our patients are doing after treatment. Another dosimetrist who also volunteered was able to
reconnect with a few patients that she had done treatment plans for. It is a great feeling to see all
of these people come together and share their stories and celebrate with each other.

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References
1. Meet Our President. Don Monti Foundation website. http://donmontifoundation.org/ourhistory/meet-our-president/. Accessed August 12, 2015.

Flyer and pictures from the event:

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Myself pictured with Mark Herzlich: