Caring for strangers at the end of their lives
Anish Singh and other Case Western Reserve University students formed the Hospice Volunteer Club earlier this year; already 30 others have joined their mission
As a second-year Case Western Reserve University student, Anish Singh became a hospice volunteer, offering companionship and empathy to patients in their final weeks—and coming face-to-face with mortality.
His first patient was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and the memories of their conversations about music, news, sports and TV are indelible.
“These seemingly ordinary topics made him feel seen and heard,” Singh said. “His eyes brightened up.”
Moved to do more, Singh co-founded the campus Hospice Volunteer Club in the spring with classmate Liam McKay.
The club works with Traditions Health, a national hospice-services provider, to pair students—who provide end-of-life companionship and support—with patients who are mostly in hospice and assisted-living facilities.
Now a fourth-year student, Singh plans to be a physician. He recently spoke with CWRU Magazine about serving hospice patients and lessons he’s absorbed in just a few years—lessons that can sometimes take a lifetime to learn.
What stands out to you?
In all of my interactions with patients, what they remember most fondly are their relationships. That’s been a powerful reminder that, in the end, the connections we make with others are what matter most.
How does the experience prepare you to be a physician?
If you are interested in pursuing medicine, learning how to create longitudinal relationships is incredibly important. These aren’t isolated events; you’re building a connection and trust with each visit.
Physicians, of course, are focused on caring and healing, but death is an inevitable part of life—for medical professionals and for everyone.
Has it changed your outlook?
We see a variety of patients—mostly older adults, some who are cognitively present and others in the late stages of dementia.
Regardless, the most important thing is to be present emotionally: to smile, maintain eye contact, make them feel heard. Your presence alone can be incredibly meaningful. It’s changed how I approach people, and I know it will make me a more compassionate physician.
We all have stories—we’re crafters of our own narratives. To hear someone’s story as it nears its final chapters, to bear witness to that, is incredibly rewarding.
Photograph by Mark Oprea