Moffitt Team Members Bring Healing Through Volunteer Service
Before her normal workday begins, Laura Bosselman, manager on Moffitt Cancer Center's Patient Experience team, sets the tone for her day by volunteering as a Comfort Companion. Bosselman spends her early morning hours sitting with patients in their rooms offering silent support.
On the same day, later in the afternoon, you can spot Mackenzie Nalven, an advisor for Organizational Development, and her dog Nash roaming the halls of the cancer center, offering joy and emotional relief to patients, as volunteers for the Pet Therapy program.
Laura Bosselman sits with Moffitt patients during the early hours of the morning, offering them silent support.
For Bosselman, Nalven and many other team members at Moffitt, compassion doesn’t end with the workday. Across the organization, many of our team members choose to give more — volunteering their time, energy and hearts to support patients, families and fellow team members outside of their regular roles.
Volunteering since high school, Bosselman says she has always been an advocate, supporting initiatives that align with her core values. When she found out about Moffitt’s Comfort Companion program, she immediately felt called to participate.
“When I was introduced to the program, I knew I could be of service to our patients during such a sacred and vulnerable time in their journey,” Bosselman explained. “It felt like a natural extension of both my compassion and commitment to the community we care for.”
Bosselman usually volunteers during the 1 to 4 a.m. shift. During those quiet hours, she says she has learned the power of presence of simply sitting with someone, offering silent support and being fully in the moment.
For Nalven, her path to volunteering started in college. While interning at Moffitt, she witnessed the therapy dogs visiting patients at the Magnolia campus. Seeing the immediate and positive impact the therapy dogs had on patients and team members inspired her to learn more about the program.
“After researching the many benefits of the Pet Therapy program, I set a goal to train my dog to become a therapy dog,” Nalven said.
Mackenzie Nalven and her dog, Nash, walk the halls of Moffitt bringing joy to patients.
As a member of the Organizational Development team, Nalven says since she doesn’t get to interact directly with patients, volunteering has enhanced her connection.
“During every shift, I have the opportunity to interact with our patients or see team members in action, and I’m reminded of the importance of Moffitt’s mission,” Nalven said.
Bosselman also expresses that volunteering has connected her to the mission.
“Spending time at a patient’s bedside allows me to connect with our mission on a deeply human level. I get to witness raw, emotional moments and offer comfort in a way that’s intimate and grounding,” she explained. “It’s a humbling reminder of why we do this work. These experiences keep me rooted in our purpose and reinforce just how vital compassion and presence are to healing.”
Both Bosselman and Nalven say volunteering has enhanced their ability to listen deeply and respond to what people truly need in the moment.
“While providing pet therapy, not every patient wants to interact the same way. Some prefer conversation, others just want quiet companionship. Nash always seems to know what the patients need, so I’ve learned to follow his lead,” Nalven explained.
“Personally, it’s made me more present, more empathetic and more grateful,” Bosselman added.
When it comes to encouraging other team members to volunteer, Nalven’s message is simple. “It only takes a few moments of your time to brighten someone else’s day. Even a small gesture can make a big difference.”
At Moffitt our volunteers play a vital role. Whether offering a warm welcome at the info desk, delivering comfort or lending a hand at events, these volunteers create meaningful experiences that extend the care we give every day. Their dedication reminds us that healing happens not just through medicine, but through humanity.
