Volunteer Spotlight: Lending a Helping Hand

With a quick and professional “Central supply, this is Bob,” you can tell Bob Hummel takes his job very seriously. Hummel has been volunteering in Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center’s central supply department for about six weeks now and has loved every minute of the experience. 

“Everyone here is so nice,” Hummel says. “It’s such a supportive atmosphere where everyone helps each other out.”

A former senior vice president at a bank in Chicago, Hummel retired early and moved to the Knoxville area with his wife in 2020. After moving, he started volunteering with the Knox County Health Department in its vaccination efforts earlier this year.

Hummel made his way to Fort Sanders Regional after connecting with volunteer manager Julie Dougherty who told him about the many volunteer opportunities available at the hospital.

“We have so many opportunities to volunteer at Fort Sanders Regional,” Julie says. “We’re fortunate to have a family of volunteers who possess a wide range of talents and experience. Volunteers like Bob
help the hospital tremendously.”

Hummel says that he volunteers because of the extra time he now has in retirement and because of his family ties to the medical field. He has one daughter and one brother who are both doctors, so he feels a connection to the work our staff does every day.

In addition, Hummel loves the position’s flexibility and the team he gets to work with in central supply.

Outside of volunteering, Hummel enjoys traveling with his wife, exploring the Smokies, visiting with his three children and occasionally heading out for target practice and sporting clays.