Seeing Double at Cedars-Sinai During National Volunteer Week

To mark National Volunteer Week, Cedars-Sinai is spotlighting two of the medical center's youngest volunteers, who have a very special bond: They are identical twins.

Zoie and Midori Pungalan, 20, are both studying to become registered nurses, and they are supplementing their schoolwork with the hands-on experience they are earning as Cedars-Sinai volunteers.

The twins arrive at Cedars-Sinai when it's still dark outside, waking at 3:30 a.m. at their Torrance home.

"They give of themselves incredibly," said Michele Prince, Cedars-Sinai's director of Volunteer Services. "They come in for the morning shift at 5 a.m. They're getting up way before dawn and coming all the way here to serve the hospital."

The two work on separate nursing floors, helping nurses start their day by filling supplies, cleaning workstations and assisting with patient requests.

"It doesn't even feel like a job or a duty," said Zoie Pungalan. "It feels like a calling for us. It makes us feel good to be here every time."

Midori Pungalan said that when her alarm goes off before dawn, she reminds herself that someone at the hospital needs her. "They are here and they need our help," she said.

Zoie and Midori are members of a special program called Transforming Care at the Bedside(TCAB), a program for those who are interested in careers in healthcare.

"The volunteers are placed on nursing units to be exposed to the work of nurses, physicians and other healthcare professionals and see a wide variety of careers they can choose from," Prince said.

Both Pungalan twins have nursing mentors who encourage them on their journey to healthcare careers. And both say they are learning skills that will assist them in the future. For now, though, they particularly enjoy interacting with patients.

"I love going into patient rooms and asking how they are doing and if they need anything," Zoie said.

Said Midori: "I'm pretty sure it's going to help me be more resilient and more attentive to patient needs."

Being identical, and dressed in the same volunteer uniform, poses some challenges for the two. They are often confused for one another and must frequently reintroduce themselves to staff members and patients.

"I make sure to say, 'I'm Midori, and I have a twin named Zoie,'" Midori said. But the two are used to the mix-ups, and being identical makes them stand out.

The twins dream of earning their nursing degrees and coming back to Cedars-Sinai one day as nurses. And it could happen, Prince said.

"There are 1,200 Cedars-Sinai employees who were once volunteers," Prince said, "and perhaps Zoie and Midori will be among them one day."

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Volunteering at Cedars-Sinai-Needed, Always Valued