By Mel Rubenstein

Contributing Writer

My interview with Michael Ergort hit a little closer to home because he is one of those rare breed Syracuse natives, as I am. He also went to Nottingham High School as I did, and he was in business as I was. But, the similarities end when I saw him in the St. Joseph’s Surgical Center in Fayetteville wearing hospital scrubs.

Michael was born in Syracuse after his father moved here from Poland. He attended Nottingham High School, and then went to Miami Dade College. While Michael was in college his father took ill and passed away. He then came home and went to work for Syracuse Paper and Twine.

A couple of years later, Michael married Bobbi Goldberg and went to work for his father-in-law at Goldberg’s Furniture Stores, where he became the vice-president. During that time, he was on the board of director’s of the Jewish Home of Central New York, a position he held for six years. Ergort worked at Goldberg’s for 40 years before retiring.

In retirement, Michael Ergort wanted to give back to the community. His decision how to do that was easy, because he never forgot the great experience when he had surgery at the Northeast Surgery Center (NESC) in Fayetteville, which is part of St. Joseph’s Health. That was where he wanted to volunteer.

The requirement for all volunteers at the NESC is to take a written test before they begin, and then annually after that. The test includes the dos and don’ts, and other things like safety protocols.

The first time Ergort walked into the Northeast Surgery Center in Fayetteville for his assignment he was greeted by Bill Riggall, who runs the OR. “Riggall showed me to my locker, and gave me a pair of scrubs. It sure looked like I was going to be volunteering in the OR,” Michael said.

The NESC is a one-day surgery center that performs orthopedic procedures, hernias, reconstruction, and other procedures. There are just a few operations that require an overnight stay, and for that there are four (comfortable) rooms to accommodate those patients.

One of Michael Ergort’s jobs is to check on the supplies in the OR, but he does not enter the OR when it is being used. He also answers the phone, runs errands and takes patients down to whomever is going to take them home.

“Everything runs very smoothly, except one time when I brought a patient down for her ride, and the ride wasn’t there,” he said. “It took a few phone calls, but her transportation came in due time and took her home.”

The Northeast Surgery Center does not take emergency patients. All procedures are done by appointment with the patient’s doctor. Ergort is very impressed with all of the doctors and nurses, and everyone on the office staff.

All volunteers take an annual test to make sure they are up to date on all of the protocols. They are also required to take an annual physical and get flu shots there. There is another St. Joseph’s Health Surgery Center in North Syracuse, and those volunteers have the same requirements.

Michael Ergort is thankful for the letters of gratitude received from patients he assisted. “Every time I leave the NESC I feel good about what I did that day,” he said. He has been volunteering there twice a week from 7 to 11:30 for the past eight years. When asked if he ever had a bad experience, he emphasized, “Not one!”

When Michael is not volunteering he enjoys golf, and the winters at the Villages in Florida. He is the past president of the Syracuse Corvette Club.

The Ergorts’ live in Manlius and have two daughters and four grandchildren.

“We have such wonderful volunteers here and are fortunate that they share their time, talents and enthusiastic energy with us,” said Katelin Kingsley, RN Manager of the Northeast Surgery Center. “Our volunteers play a vital role in our day to day operations and offer invaluable support to both our team and the patients. We are very appreciative for all they do and cannot thank them enough. The surgery center would not be the same without them.”

Mary Hagen, volunteer services coordinator for St. Joseph’s Health, added, “Michael has been volunteering since January 2008 and he has volunteered for more than 2,300 hours. Northeast Surgery Center was the place that Michael decided he wanted to volunteer. It was close to his home which was convenient.  Well, eight years later he is still there … I think it was a good fit for him.”

If interested in volunteering, call Mary Hagen at St Joseph’s Health at 448-5186 to set up an interview.

To recommend someone with a stellar record of volunteering to be featured in this column contact Mel Rubenstein: [email protected] or 682-7162.