A Tribute to Joyce Sorn
On Sunday, July 8 Orlando Health lost a very dear friend, longtime supporter and volunteer. Joyce Sorn’s connection to Orlando Health began in the 1950s when she started volunteering behind the Information and Mail desk at Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC) when it was known as Orange General Hospital, and where she was also born.
Until quite recently, almost 60 years and 18,500 hours later, Joyce could still be found volunteering in the Emergency Department at ORMC at the age of 87.
Joyce’s interest in healthcare started when she was just a teenager and was recommended to fill an open nurses aid job due to the influx of nurses being sent overseas during WWII. She took a two-week intensive nurse’s training course that would help her in her job and later as a volunteer.
In addition to volunteering at Orlando Health hospitals, Joyce also served as the President of the Women’s Auxiliary (now Volunteer Services), Chairman of the Candy Stripers and on the One Night Trauma Committee, which helped raise awareness and funds for the ORMC Level One Trauma Center. In 2002, Joyce and her husband George partnered with Orlando Health to create the Joyce G. Sorn Nursing Scholarship to provide financial assistance to nursing students. After George’s death, Joyce continued to generously support the mission of ORMC.
Joyce will be greatly missed by staff across Orlando Health. She called those that she worked with family and was thought of the same way in return.
Donations in memory of Joyce can be made through the Foundation at OrlandoHealthFoundation.com or by calling 321.841.5194. Gifts can be directed to the Emergency Department at ORMC or the Joyce G. Sorn Nursing Scholarship.
