News

Bonnie McPhillips
Volunteer & Patient Ambassador
Importance of Caring | my journey into volunteering

Bonnie McPhillips has spent a lifetime striving to make a difference in other people's lives. Now that she is retired from full-time work, she has found fulfillment and purpose as a volunteer at Columbus Community Hospital.

Even before she retired, McPhillips was heavily involved in the hospital as a nine-year member of the board of directors. "I learned so much about the hospital and the healthcare industry during that time," she said. "We have a state-of-the-art facility and an amazing staff that truly cares about patient care. That does not happen without great leadership and the creation of a culture where you are an employer of choice."

McPhillips graduated from Wayne State College with a degree in counseling. In her career, she first spent 28 years working for the Department of Labor, and then was the executive director of the Columbus Housing Authority for 15 years. While she's not quite a lifelong Columbus resident, she did grow up here and has raised her family in the area for the last 40 years.

McPhillips began volunteering in January 2025, and so far, she has helped with special events and fundraisers and served as a patient ambassador.

Patient ambassador is a relatively new position in which volunteers collect feedback from patients about their stay in the hospital. "It is so gratifying to hear all the positive comments and suggestions they share," McPhillips said. "I receive many thank yous from patients for stopping by their room, and for letting them know that the hospital staff wants them to have the best patient experience possible."

McPhillips and her husband, Bill, have been married for more than 42 years and have two adult sons - Justin and Levi. Each son married a woman named Katie, and Bonnie and Bill now have 10 grandchildren.

At home, McPhillips loves to bake, cook, read and entertain family and friends. She's a deeply faithful person who attends daily mass at St. Isidore's Catholic Church, and she serves others by helping her elderly father and caring for her grandchildren.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities available at the hospital, visit columbushosp.org.