Volunteer Spotlight
Dr. Kristie Kaufman, Pediatric Medicine Volunteer
For Kristie, caring for children means looking beyond the immediate reason for a medical visit. A child's health and well-being are shaped not only by medical care, but also by the circumstances of everyday life.
"Caring for children and their families at CVIM emphasizes the need for all to have access, without discrimination and fear, to healthcare as well as attention to social determinants of health such as food, housing, and education," she explained.
That understanding has remained central to her approach throughout her medical career.
"After many years in medicine, I still love to partner with children and their families, not just to treat illness, but to build the knowledge, confidence, and resources kids need to thrive, including stable food, housing, and safe environments."
At CVIM, Kristie brings that philosophy to her volunteer work, recognizing that supporting a child's health also means understanding the needs and challenges facing the family.
And while her years of medical experience are valuable to CVIM, volunteering offers meaningful returns.
"Working with other volunteers and staff at CVIM is an exceptionally rewarding experience and reminds me of why I chose healthcare as a career."
For Kristie, volunteering brings together two important parts of her life: her dedication to caring for children and her connection to the community where she raised her own family.
Through her work at CVIM, she continues to help children and families build a healthier future in the place she calls home.
For more than two decades, Dr. Kristie Kaufman has called State College home. It's where she raised her children, built lasting friendships, and developed a deep appreciation for the community around her.
Today, as a volunteer pediatric provider at Centre Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM), Kristie is helping other children and families in that same community access the care and support they need.
Kristie first learned about CVIM through colleagues. When she discovered there was a need for pediatric care, she saw an opportunity to put her years of medical experience to work for her neighbors.
Her decision to volunteer was rooted in something she had come to value about living in Centre County.
"The small-town feel yet plenty of opportunities, genuine friendships, as well as the depth of caring in our community has solidified my roots here," she shared