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Joyce Hyatt started volunteering at age 18, teaching CPR and first aid. Decades later, after a long career in nursing that ranged from nurse’s aide to nurse practitioner, she still volunteers.

In November, Hyatt’s longstanding commitment to serving the community was recognized when New York Gov. Kathy Hochul awarded her the state’s Exemplary Service Award for 2021. Hyatt, who resides in Big Flats, was chosen from among 86 nominees. She learned of the honor when New York State Office for the Aging Acting Director Greg Olsen called her.

A career in nursing

A graduate of 91����’s Decker School of Nursing (now Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences), Hyatt earned a master’s degree in community health administration in 1989. She returned in 1996 for an advanced certificate as a community health nurse practitioner, then earned a doctoral degree in rural health nursing in 2005.

For 23 years she worked under contract with the Chemung County Health Department as a community health nurse and was responsible for facilitating the Chemung Valley Rural Health Network and establishing the county’s Medical Reserve Corps.

Created after 9/11, the Medical Reserve Corps is a group of healthcare professionals and support personnel who assist in public health emergencies. Members may be called upon to serve locally, regionally, elsewhere in New York state or across the country. Since its inception, the corps has assisted with influenza and H1N1 vaccine clinics and is heavily involved in COVID response efforts.

In addition, for more than 20 years, Hyatt served as an adjunct instructor for Elmira College’s nursing program. The last two courses she taught, in 2021, were epidemiology and aging. Due to declining enrollment Hyatt isn’t presently teaching, but plans to return to the classroom whenever she’s needed.

Serving the community

Throughout a lifetime of community service, one of Hyatt’s greatest volunteer efforts was helping create the Health Ministry of the Southern Tier in 1996. Staffed solely by volunteers, the ministry provided free, limited, primary healthcare.

The nonprofit organization is something Hyatt was so passionate about, it sent her back to college.

“I went back to Decker to get my [nurse practitioner] certificate so I could help establish the Health Ministry of the Southern Tier,” she said. “We provided healthcare to the uninsured and underinsured in Chemung, Steuben and Schuyler counties.”

Passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010 led to reduced need for the ministry, and the practice was dissolved in 2018.

With the dissolution of the ministry and her retirement from the health department about six years ago, Hyatt has more time for community service.

She volunteers with the Medical Reserve Corps to deliver COVID vaccine and booster clinics, typically working one four- or eight-hour shift a week. Hyatt’s background and education mean she is able to serve in almost any capacity required at the clinics.

“I work where they put me, whether it’s giving injections or registering people,” she said. “Most often though, as a nurse practitioner, I assist in observing people following their vaccination.”

Additionally, every Wednesday morning Hyatt volunteers at the Chemung County Health Department. For four hours each week she answers telephones, taking messages for the public health nurses and answering questions for people regarding COVID.

“Being retired, I have more time to do some of the reading and research into answering questions for the Medical Reserve Corps volunteers and county health department staff, who are running 100 miles an hour all the time due to the pandemic,” she said.

Hyatt also serves on the board or committees for a number of not-for-profit organizations, including the Emergency Medical Services Training Center (EMSTAR). This is an emergency medical services training and resources facility that manages paramedic/emergency medical technician training and provides a variety of workplace training such as CPR and Stop The Bleed.

Why she volunteers (and thinks you should, too)

“I volunteer because I like to be a part of initiatives that help people,” Hyatt said. “I feel better, happier and more fulfilled. I think being around others and doing things that are productive has a positive impact on your health.”

True to her background as a nurse researcher, Hyatt cited a study conducted by AARP a few years ago that indicated people who volunteer in retirement live about 2.5 years longer and have higher scores when rating happiness and health.

For Hyatt, volunteering is also a way to give back to the community for scholarships she received during her graduate education at Decker.

“I feel like this is a way to pay back the state of New York for investing in me,” she said.

Hyatt would like to see more people volunteer — in any capacity that appeals to them.

“You don’t need to be a nurse or even a healthcare worker. There are opportunities everywhere to help,” she said. “We all need to continue to be engaged in our world.”