Since this interview was published, Jessica has moved on to the next step in her career. We wish her all the best and hope you enjoy her interview!

Tell us a little about yourself!

Hi! My name is Jessica Vergis-Mayo and I am the Events & Community Engagement Officer. I have just recently joined Humber in May and am so excited to be on the team!

In one sentence, how would you explain your job to a friend?

My job is to plan fun and exciting events to fundraise for the Hospital! I have the opportunity to work with our incredible partners on our Annual signature events and also with the amazing members of our community to plan and support third party fundraising events.

Is there a Program of Care that you are particularly passionate about?

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Program is a program that is very close to my heart. I am passionate about breaking down the stigma surrounding Mental Health and I know this program is an incredible resource for so many young people and their families, especially during the Pandemic. I am excited to see this program in the Hospital continue to grow and have an impact on so many lives.

“There are so many incredible ways that technology is being used at Humber! My favourite is through the Command Centre, which is like a central control station for the entire Hospital,” says Jessica.

In your opinion, what are the most interesting ways technology is being used at Humber?

There are so many incredible ways that technology is being used at Humber! My favourite is through the Command Centre, which is like a central control station for the entire Hospital. It ensures our patients receive top quality care and have a smooth patient experience. It’s the central piece that connects all of the incredible staff, physicians, technology, and programs throughout a patient’s care journey.

Do you have a favourite fundraising project?

My favourite fundraising program is Gifts of Gratitude! Our frontline workers have sacrificed so much over the past year during the pandemic and have worked tirelessly to keep all of us safe. Gifts of Gratitude is such an incredible program to personally thank a frontline worker who went above and beyond and had an impact on a patient’s care journey. I know that receiving a Gift of Gratitude pin means the world to our frontline workers and always makes their day. The donations from the Gift of Gratitude program go to ensure future patients receive that same high level of care and I think that’s so incredible – it’s like a pay it forward program where you can ensure great care for someone in the future while also saying thank you to the frontline worker at the same time!

“An awesome thing I did in the past year was go skydiving!”

What is one awesome thing you have done in the last year?

An awesome thing I did in the past year was go skydiving! I’m definitely an adrenaline junkie and have always dreamt of one day going skydiving. I decided last year to make my dream a reality! Free falling was such a fun, yet peaceful experience – it doesn’t feel like you are actually falling. The entire experience was incredible and the team at Skydive Toronto were awesome. I’m hoping to one day go again. Hopefully next time it’ll be somewhere surrounded by mountains!

What inspires you?

I am inspired everyday by the incredible people around me who use their skills and experiences to help others. From the incredible frontline workers at Humber who provide care for our patients, to the amazing staff and donors at the Foundation working so hard to fundraise so we can continue to innovate and reinvent patient care every day. My family and friends are so inspiring too. They work hard to bring positive change and support those in their communities through their own careers and volunteer work. Together we all have the opportunity to change someone’s life for the better, and that inspires me every day to do what I do.