‘Healthcare Heroes Have Heart’: messages on 1300 paper hearts encourage hospital workers
Jonathon Zarb
Jonathon Zarb’s 2am idea led to a massive staff care project: 1,300 hearts of encouragement hung on 600 feet of twine displayed at three William Osler Health campuses.
Augustus Oku
Knox student Jonathon Zarb (MPS) and Knox alum Augustus Oku (ThM ’04) are Osler’s Spiritual Health Therapy Coordinators. They invited staff, volunteers, and physicians to write encouraging messages on paper hearts for their fellow colleagues. These messages were then collected, compiled, and displayed at Osler’s three campuses: Brampton Civic Hospital, Etobicoke General Hospital, and Peel Memorial Centre. They called the project “Healthcare Heroes Have Heart.”
“The response from staff was overwhelming,” said Zarb. “Over 1,300 hearts of encouragement have been displayed on over 800 feet of twine.”
“I believe if this touches one single person, it is worth it — but I know it will touch many hearts,” said Dr. Paula Chidwick, Director of Research & Corporate Ethics, William Osler Health System.
This staff care project served two main purposes: first, it prompted the writer to take a mindful moment to think of an encouraging message; and second, provided a visual refueling station for anyone who needed some positivity to get through the day.
Jonathon Zarb is a student in Knox College’s Master of Pastoral Studies program. Augustus Oku is a graduate of Knox College’s Master of Theology program.
