Archive: UCSF Medical Center Lobby Fills with Holiday Spirit

The UCSF Medical Center lobby was a scene of holiday jubilation as nurses, physicians, staff, patients, volunteers, visitors and children from the nearby child care center celebrated the holiday season on Dec. 3. Wearing Santa hats, staff from UCSF Volunteer Services once again assumed their usual role of making merry, inviting passersby to stop in the lobby for some holiday cheer. Some people took some coaxing to take a minute from their busy morning schedules to hang an ornament on the tree and pose for a photo. But others, seeing the table of treats, ranging from fruitcake to sparking cider, and hearing the sounds of laughter and music, quickly joined the party.

Vicki Kleemann and Deborah Gin-Wong, both of Volunteer Services, enjoy a moment with 15-year UCSF Medical Center volunteer George Hanrahan at the annual tree-trimming celebration.

Vicki Kleemann, director of Volunteer Services, has been organizing this feel-good holiday event for eight years. "What I think is so wonderful about this becoming a tradition is that many times staff ask when is the tree going up and that they look forward to coming by and having their picture taken," Kleemann said. "But more importantly is the response we get from patients and family members; that is particularly touching. Although the holidays can be fun, if you're in the hospital or you have a loved one who is ill, it can be exceptionally difficult. We get so much feedback from people who say how grateful they are -- at least for that small amount of time -- to really feel a part of the whole holiday season. To have some cookies and cider by the tree brings the holiday spirit home for them." Highlighting the festivities were youngsters from the Marilyn Reed Lucia Child Care Study Center at UCSF who, led by their teachers, heartily sang three holiday songs with ringing bells in hand. A few of their proud parents captured the moment with cameras.

Paul Axelrod and his wife, Kristen, and children, William and Eve, pose with the "Purple Wizard" and "Purple Fairy," otherwise known as Michael Panagopoulous and Laura Campbell.

For Paul Axelrod, a policy analyst for medical center administration, the event was a brief and pleasant family reunion. He and his son, William, 3, who attends the child care center, hung an ornament on the tree while his wife, Kristen, and their baby daughter, Eve, looked on. The family of four also had their picture taken with the "Purple Fairy" and "Purple Wizard," who drew smiles from those at the event. Husband and wife Michael Panagopoulous and Laura Campbell donned their favorite wizard and fairy costumes to delight and draw the crowd. In addition to their 30-year marriage, the two share a passion for their purple characters. Campbell began wearing the fairy costume years ago, when registering people to vote at neighborhood fairs while working as a member of the National Organization for Women. "I realized that if I could get the attention of children, they would bring their parents over to our table," said Campbell, a regular at the tree-trimming event.

Judith Pekala, RN, takes time out from her work in the chest and allergy practice to hang an ornament on the tree.

The strategy works at UCSF Medical Center, too. For Christine Almasarweh, who has worked as a receptionist in the surgical waiting room for almost a year, the holiday celebration is a tradition worth keeping. Almasarweh has a lot to look forward to this coming year: She is expecting her first child soon, a girl, soon. Photos by Lisa Cisneros

Children from the Marilyn Reed Lucia Child Care Study Center entertain the crowd with Christmas carols.