Patient Engagement Intern Peri Niskey

Peri Niskey is currently an intern for the Patient Engagement team in the Radiation Oncology department. She is a rising senior at Temple University studying Marketing and is set to graduate in May of 2020.

I walked through the doors of the hospital, scared I was going to get lost on my way to this new experience. ‘Radiation Oncology,’ I thought to myself, ‘What does that even mean?’ I was met with smiling faces of my new team showing me where I would sit and starting to get all of my information set up in the system. As they explained to me what our team does, I was enamored by all of the Quality of Life programs that they offered, from exercise to yoga and so much more. The one that really caught my attention was when they started talking about the Alumni Patient Gatherings. They explained how alumni patients come back to meet with current patients and caregivers every week and I just thought that was such a cool concept.

On my second day, we had a Patient Alumni Gathering and to say the least I was terrified. I was so scared that I would say something wrong that would upset the patients or just not know what to say at all. I walked into a small conference room at the end of the proton hallway and watched as the caterer set up the bagels and fruits. Not long after we finished setting up, I heard loud voices coming down the hallway. Into the conference room walked six men smiling and laughing. To me, they appeared to be best friends who had known each other forever. I met each one of them and was welcomed with open arms. We talked until our hour was up and then even for a little bit after. The way that they interacted with the patients was so amazing and it was so apparent that this room was a safe space.

Over the next few months, I was able to create relationships with each of these people as well as one man who gave a special gift to each patient. His wife, who had also had cancer, made small keychains with a cancer ribbon on it. Each type of cancer was assigned a different color by the American Cancer Society and they even have a color for caregivers. Each time a patient or caregiver came in, he would respectfully ask what they were being treated for and then present them with a keychain. Such a small token was clearly so appreciated by many current patients and caregivers.

During this last year our group has experienced life and loss, but the most important experience of all were the relationships that are formed. Through everything that they have experienced, the support that they give each other is one that is unmatched. I have learned so much from everyone that I have interacted with and am so proud that I am able to say that I am a part of this team. I will forever treasure the memories that I have made with both staff and our patients and caregivers.