Each year, the WakeMed Foundation’s Community Campaign offers an opportunity to support hospital programs and services. We chatted with Jun Park, Vice President of Business Product Operations at Express Scripts, to talk about why supporting WakeMed matters.
Working in the pharmaceutical industry, Jun Park was in a position to bolster COVID relief immediately when the pandemic broke out in early 2020. The Express Scripts executive helped create a program to provide discounted drugs for those who were unemployed due to the public health crisis. “It felt good to do that and to help out nationwide,” Jun says. While watching TV one night, though, he felt compelled to do more — “I saw a WakeMed commercial and thought, ‘What am I doing to help the local community out?’”
Close to Home
Jun immediately donated to WakeMed Health & Hospitals as “the fastest way that I could help.” Little did he know, just a few months later, he would experience the WakeMed Way firsthand. Jun’s 10-year-old son, Henry, fell out of his bunk bed one night and landed on his elbow. The family rushed to the Children’s ER, concerned about more than just their son. “As a parent you’re obviously worried for your child, but we were also worried about what was going on with COVID,” Jun recalls. “We didn’t know what the protocols would be or if there would be room to help Henry.” Immediately, the WakeMed care team made the family feel right at home and taken care of.
“They didn’t miss a beat, and COVID didn’t impact Henry’s care. All of the nurses and doctors were comforting and also gave us helpful, direct information about what was going on.” Today, after a broken elbow and successful surgery, Henry is back to his usual, energetic, 10-year-old self.
‘They are the heartbeat’
When the opportunity arose to get involved with WakeMed on a deeper level by volunteering with the Community Campaign, Jun didn’t hesitate. “WakeMed is truly a community hospital. Anything I can do to get involved and help the local community out, I want to do.” Now, Jun works with a team of volunteers to encourage others to donate to WakeMed the same way he did. “The dollars go directly to top-notch care and programs.”
As the COVID pandemic rages on, Jun says it’s especially critical to support our healthcare system. “The nurses we had with Henry were beyond great. They are the heartbeat of the healthcare system, the worker bees, and I can’t thank them enough.”
Jun even got his whole family in on the give-back spirit by donating cookies to the hospital Emergency Department staff over the holidays. He says it doesn’t have to just be big monetary donations that make a difference. “The community showing support for frontline heroes really matters. Every day they’re reminded that there are people out there thanking them, thinking about what they’re going through, and wanting to help them.”
About Jun Park
Jun Park is Vice President of Business Product Operations at Express Scripts, a health care company with pharmacy subsidiaries. The Cary resident has been involved with WakeMed since the Covid pandemic began in 2020, first as a donor and now as a Community Campaign Volunteer. In his current role, he partners with fellow community members to give to the campaign, as well as attends monthly meetings with other Campaign Volunteers to hear impact stories and learn more about WakeMed.
What is the Community Campaign?
Each year, the WakeMed Foundation Community Campaign offers an opportunity for the community — for you — to support hospital programs and services. Foundation board members and volunteers raise donations and sponsorships of every amount from existing and new donors. One hundred percent of donated dollars go directly to fund programs and services to support patient care in all areas of the hospital. Creating healing environments. Providing innovative programs. Investing in skilled and compassionate caregivers. Supporting the urgent needs of our patients and families. Donations make it all possible. Your gift truly helps save and transform lives. Make a gift now: https://www.wakemed.org/giving/donate-now.
