August 30, 2012
For Dr. Virginia Byrnes, volunteering stems from her long-held belief that those who have extra should give some away. Early on, when volunteering as a candy-striper, Dr. Byrnes realized there was a greater need for healthcare in the world than could be met by the paid work force. After working as an R.N, then a practicing M.D. it became clear to her that formalized care often excluded those on the outskirts of society.
Dr. Byrnes found her perfect match at Women of Means, a non-profit founded by Dr. Roseanna Means to deliver health services to the poor and homeless women in their own environment. This involves reaching out to them in the shelters that they frequent and the streets where they live, sparing them the need to navigate the complex and increasingly hostile health care system. According to Dr. Means, "Women of Means meets the women where they live."
Dr. Byrnes finds that meeting the patients where they live is not only liberating for the patients but for the doctors as well. She enjoys her volunteer time at WOM because she has the freedom to use her own judgment in determining how much time she spends with a patient depending on her level of need. WOM is not about the technology or the competing forces of time and money. It is about two people in a room and the history and physical and the rapport that can be established. WOM is her vocation, not just a whim or hobby. Even in her paid job at the Disability and Determination Service, Dr. Byrnes' belief in helping those on the edges of formalized care is her driving force.
Dr. Byrnes is married, lives in Hingham and has recently celebrated her son's recent graduation from college with honors. When she is not at WOM or the Disability and Determination Service, she enjoys swimming, walking, expanding her cooking skills and watching the adventures of her three cats.
