CommunityHealth shines the Volunteer Spotlight on Josh Melamed as our May Volunteer of the Month!
Josh Melamed has dedicated 450 hours across three years as a committed volunteer and lead trainer at CommunityHealth His leadership and expertise have been important in onboarding dozens of new volunteers, helping them gain the skills and confidence needed to succeed.
Other than his hands-on training efforts, John played a key role in securing a donation of practice skin to be used in our lab trainings. His contributions have had a lasting impact on both the program and the patients at CommunityHealth.
CommunityHealth sat down with Josh to learn more about what quality health care for all means to him…
In a few sentences, tell us more about yourself and your background.
“I am originally from NYC and have been living in Chicago since 2021. I was raised in a family full of healthcare professionals (nurses, nursing assistants, doctors) so I naturally gravitated down that path as well. 2025 will be my fourth year volunteering at CommunityHealth.”
What is your favorite memory from your time with CommunityHealth?
“Some of my favorite memories from CommunityHealth are the times I got to see new volunteers performing their first successful blood draws during trainings. It’s a very stressful procedure for first-timers and so I’m always extremely proud seeing them overcome that hurdle.”
Do you remember your first day? What surprised you?
“On my first day there was so much to learn, it felt a little like drinking from a fire hose. Nevertheless, everyone was so supportive and went above and beyond to help me build my skills and confidence, which I’m extremely grateful for and trying to pay back!”
What is something you have learned from volunteering?
“Volunteering at CommunityHealth taught me just how important teamwork is in healthcare. In the lab, we rely on just about every section of the clinic in order to function (a special shoutout to the clinic coordinators, interpreters, and pharmacy).”
What has been your biggest takeaway from CommunityHealth, and how does this impact your other life or career goals?
“CommunityHealth has shown me that providing equitable access to healthcare isn’t too good to be true, and can be done with enough support which is something I hope to continue to contribute to throughout my career.”
How has working with CommunityHealth influenced your perception of health care?
“Volunteering at CommunityHealth expanded my idea of what’s possible in healthcare and made me much more optimistic that there are institutions doing tremendous work to fill in the gaps left by our healthcare system.”
What advice would you give to a new volunteer with CommunityHealth?
“One piece of advice I would give is to try and get to know your fellow volunteers and the staff. I have gotten to meet incredibly friendly and interesting people in the clinic which has made working alongside them all the more enjoyable.”
Outside of volunteering with CommunityHealth, how do you like to spend your free time?
“Since coming to Chicago, I have fallen in love with the lakefront and can regularly be found there on long runs or bike rides during my spare time.”
