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More than 940 hours of volunteer service recognized
 | Carolyn Whittenburg, a museum docent, explores
an interactive element at the Marian Koshland
Science Museum in Washington, D.C., in the
exhibition "Infectious Disease: Evolving Challenges
to Human Health."
| The National Museum of Health and Medicine thanked its docents by taking them on a field trip to the Marian Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C.
This year alone, docents volunteered more than 940 hours of service through the American Red Cross and had contributed a combined total of 148 years of support.
In recognition, public programs manager Andrea Schierkolk, tour program coordinator Gwen Nelmes, and public affairs specialist Jennifer Heilman, coordinated a guided tour of the museum, which includes interactive displays that illustrate the role of science in informing national policy and personal decisions impacting people’s daily lives.
A majority of the museum’s exhibitions are temporary, and currently consist of “Infectious Disease: Evolving Challenges to Human Health” exploring the microbial world, examining the emergence of new threats and shows how our response determines the spread of disease; “Global Warming Facts & Our Future” depicting issues related to global warming, including possible implications of this phenomenon for the quality of life worldwide; and “Wonders of Science,” an introductory section that displays scientific animations illustrating ground-breaking scientific research and includes a film.
Located at northeast corner of 6th and E Streets, NW in Washington, D.C., the museum opened to the public in April 2004 and is a frequent programming partner with NMHM. The Marian Koshland Science Museum is named for Marian Koshland (1921-1997), a National Academy of Sciences member, and an immunologist and molecular biologist who conducted groundbreaking research in the behavior of antibodies and worked on the cholera vaccine. Interactive exhibits bring to life the numerous reports conducted by the prestigious National Academies every year.
The tour was followed by a lunch at the District ChopHouse & Brewery restaurant in Washington, D.C., where Schierkolk individually recognized each docent’s accomplishments and years of service.
Docents in attendance included Anne Pollin of Bethesda, Md., who has served as a docent for 18 years beginning in 1989; Regina Hunt of Rockville, Md., a docent with 17 years of service; James DePersis of Adelphi, Md., and Enid Rosen of Bethesda, Md., both who have volunteered for 15 years; Edward Byrdy of Silver Spring, Md., and Carolyn Whittenburg of Silver Spring, Md., both 10-year docents; Marjorie Shaw, Ph.D., a docent with three years of service; Solomon Barr, M.D., of Bethesda, Md., Brenda Kiessling of Vienna, Va., and Pam Kincheloe of Manassas, Va., all two-year docents.
The docents who were unable to join their colleagues on the trip are Edward Beeman, M.D., of Bethesda, Md., Catherine Bonomo of Silver Spring, Md., Lewis Larson of Columbia, Md., Marianne Solfronk of Silver Spring, Md., and Shen Sung, M.D., of North Potomac, Md.
Hunt received special recognition for 177 hours of service along with Whittenburg who volunteered 126 hours.
“This year’s annual docent field trip was a rewarding experience,” said Schierkolk. “As a museum comprised of a small staff, we rely heavily on docents who make public tours and programs possible by donating their time. If each docent can spark the curiosity of one child or adult, then they have done their job, and we can’t thank them enough for creating that desire for knowledge.”
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