PORTLAND – Jennifer Fitzpatrick, CAVS, manager of volunteer services at Mercy Hospital in Portland, was recently honored with the 2007 President’s Award from the New England Association of Directors of Healthcare Volunteer Services for her development of the volunteer oncology massage program at Mercy.

Recognized for its high impact with patients in Mercy’s Oncology/Hematology Center, the program offers patients massages by licensed massage therapists while the patients are in the center receiving treatment.

Massage helps to ease stress that can accompany treatment and provides a break during a long day. The program was developed in collaboration with Bruce Hopkins, LMT, and Dr. Roger Inhorn, chief of oncology at Mercy, and staffed by approximately 15 volunteer massage therapists.