Volunteer of the Week: Cindy Nothom

Cindy Nothom, Culmore Clinic Volunteer of the Week

Congratulations and a big thank you are in order to our Volunteer of the Week, Cindy Nothom. Cindy is one of our devoted Volunteer Nurses at Culmore Clinic and she has been instrumental in her role as a Telehealth Nurse, working to do follow-up calls with our patients after their provider appointments.

As we know, healthcare does not stop after one leaves the doctor’s office and so Cindy helps our patients (with the assistance of our Volunteer Interpreters) navigate resources they may need to get lab tests and prescriptions. She is also there to clarify information for them and answer any questions they may have thought of after their appointments.

According to Cindy, she does this work because…

I love the holistic approach with which we provide our services. The professionalism and cooperation amongst all the team members is wonderful. I love the inspiring environment created by the organization striving toward the Gold Standard in care and working to constantly adapt to the needs in the community. Hearing the thankfulness of the patients for helping them navigate the complexities of healthcare makes me feel like I have contributed something to our neighbors.

For many years Cindy was the wife of a Navy Officer while raising two children. She moved 13 times in 19 years and five times away from the Continental US. She loved learning about the people and traditions from other countries and other parts of the US. As a nurse, Cindy was able to work in various areas of healthcare during this time. As a self-proclaimed “people-person,” she was always involved in volunteer opportunities. When her husband retired from the military, she returned to school to earn a BSN, while working in long-term care. Working with elders and learning what it means to age successfully helped Cindy “understand the importance of having a purpose and the need to give back to my community,” she said. It was through this work with elders that she learned of Culmore Clinic. When she decided to retire after 23 years working at Goodwin Bailey’s Crossroads (one of Culmore Clinic’s supporting organizations), some of her patients there recommended she volunteer with The Clinic.

Over the years, her two children grew up, moved away from home and have given her and her husband 4 grandchildren. Her son and family live in Minnesota. Cindy feels lucky to have social media to stay in touch with family who are dispersed around the country. When she’s not at Culmore Clinic she is playing piano, knitting prayer shawls with a wonderful group of ladies (now via Zoom), and enjoying reading, music and coloring. As Cindy says: “Life is good!”

When asked about Cindy, Anne-Lise Quinn, our Executive Director said:

Cindy is beloved among her colleagues at Culmore Clinic, not only as a fabulous nurse but as a funny, joyful teammate! I love the few moments before our virtual town halls because I know Cindy will be the first one on and we can enjoy a moment or two of catch up and laughter!

We can’t thank you enough, Cindy! All of your hard work and dedication to our patients help make Culmore Clinic what it is. We are thrilled to honor you this week as Culmore Clinic’s Volunteer of the Week! Congratulations!

If you’d like to share a congratulatory message for Cindy, or any nice words, please feel free to comment below.