During National Volunteer Week, Stony Brook University Hospital celebrates our hospital volunteers for the many contributions they make day to day to enhance the patient experience at Stony Brook.
Ray Negron, a resident of Brentwood has been named the 2025 Senior Volunteer of the Year. Ray began his service in 2023 and has contributed nearly 400 hours to our patients and their families.
Ray volunteers his time working with stroke patients who are receiving care as an inpatient. Ray was a pioneer in this volunteer role, which has since expanded and has incorporated other stroke survivors.
As a stroke survivor himself, Ray volunteers his time visiting with patients and providing a safe place for them to communicate their fears. Ray is also fluent in Spanish, which allows those who speak Spanish the opportunity to converse with him in their preferred language. After speaking with Ray, and knowing that Ray has had a similar journey, patients are left feeling hopeful.
Marret Anderson, RN, MSN, ANP-C, Stroke Navigator Nurse, shared, “Ray walks onto our unit with a smile and a feeling of enthusiasm like no other. He greets everyone with the same level of respect and always stops to check in with our staff to ask if anyone needs help.” Unit staff say, “Ray is coming today, it’s going to be a great day.”
Across the Stony Brook Medicine healthcare system, volunteers make a meaningful difference every day — offering comfort, extending a helping hand or brightening someone’s day with a smile.
Learn more about Stony Brook University Hospital’s Volunteer Program.