Volunteer Opportunities at UCSD Health System in San Diego

About Us

Volunteer Service Program Opportunities

UC San Diego Medical Center (in Hillcrest)

  • 6th Floor, 8th Floor, Cardiac Care Unit, or IMU
    Volunteers assist the nursing staff by running errands and labs as needed, putting away supplies, assisting in the transportation of patients, taking charts to Medical Records, and visiting, talking to, and reading to patients.
  • Administrative Support (Owen Clinic, Volunteer Services, etc.)
    Perform duties such as answering phone, filing, running errands, etc.
  • Bannister Family House
    Office assistance, guest services and luncheon program for the guests of the 12-room “home-away-from-home” for families of critical inpatients. Assist the House Manager in projects/programs to support the guests of Bannister Family House.
  • Call Pool
    Volunteers circulate through hospital to all clinical areas to offer assistance in running errands, deliveries, patient transports, and administrative projects. Volunteers are on pager and must work independently.
  • Critical Care Units
    Support to Unit staff by performing tasks such as errands, transporting specimens and equipment, patient transport assistance, cleaning and changing beds, stocking supplies, and telephone and administrative assistance. This is a fast paced and intense environment.
  • Cuddler Program (Infant Special Care Unit)
    Volunteers hold, rock, feed, and change babies under the close supervision of the nursing staff. Additionally, volunteers support the staff by performing tasks and running errands as needed. There is a two-year waiting list for this position.
  • Doula Program (Hearts & Hands)
    A doula (childbirth assistant) provides continuous, one-on-one physical, emotional, and informational support to women during labor and birth. (A doula doesn’t leave a laboring woman until her baby is born, no matter how long it takes.) Doula volunteers work under close direction/supervision of a nurse, nurse-midwife, or physician in offering non-clinical support to birthing women, including providing massage, suggesting techniques for positioning or breathing, and other comfort measures. Training provided to selected volunteers. Physical and emotional stamina is needed, and Spanish is helpful. Click here or contact Ann Fulcher at afulcher@ucsd.edu or (619) 543-6269 for more information.
  • EEG/ Epilepsy Research
    Alphabetizing, filing, answer phones, mailing reports, help with Epilepsy Research Study, some patient interaction
  • Emergency Department
    Support to department staff by performing tasks such as errands, transporting equipment, patient transport assistance, cleaning and changing beds, stocking supplies and telephone and administrative assistance. Shifts available nearly 24/7; must be 18 years of age and completed high school.
  • Emergency Department – Research Associate
    Volunteers complete survey research utilizing Emergency Department patients working with ED physicians and inputting data. Must be 18 years of age and completed high school.
  • Family Maternity Care Center
    Volunteers provide assistance to staff by running errands, patient transportation, administrative assistance, and interacting with patients.
  • Gastroenterology
    Discharge patients after procedures and escort to car in wheelchair; assist recovery nurse by observing monitored patients; answer recovery room phone; stock supplies; some clerical tasks.
  • Hemodialysis
    Volunteers assist by performing errands, patient transports, administrative tasks (filing) and transport of specimens and equipment.
  • Interventional Pulmonology Unit
    Volunteers provide assistance through office administrative assistance, errands deliveries, and patient transports.
  • Labor and Delivery
    Support to Unit staff by performing tasks such as errands, transporting specimens and equipment, patient transport assistance, cleaning and changing beds, stocking supplies, and telephone and administrative assistance.
  • Music Volunteers
    Volunteer musicians provide music as a therapeutic tool for patients.
  • NICU Concierge
    Volunteers are based in the NICU, welcoming family members, directing them to their baby; helping to make parents comfortable; stocking supplies; helping with the breast milk data bank.
  • Nuclear Medicine
    Volunteers assist by performing tasks such as escorting patients to registration, labs, or restroom, return films and x rays to file room, answer phone, file charts, and records.
  • Patient “Personal Care” Program
    Community cosmetologists volunteer to provide free service to hospital patients such as haircuts, shampoo, nail care, and facial massage. Appointments are scheduled through the Volunteer Services Office.
  • Pharmacy (Discharge/Outpatient)
    Students and others interested in pursuing a career in the pharmacy industry work with Pharm. D.s and other staff members by assisting with inventory of supplies, checking for outdated medications, and administrative assistance. Must be 18 years of age and completed high school.
  • Pre-op Admissions
    Assist nursing staff, stock unit, work with charts, escort patients, and greet families

  • Psychiatry Clinical Trials
    Recruit patients into study via phone screening, responsible for study packets, assist with documentation, schedule appointments, and chart review. (NO POSITIONS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE)

  • Radiology
    • Reception: Customer service at the reception desk in Main Radiology by answering question, giving directions and escorting/transporting patients. Spanish language skills are very helpful.
    • Student Program (for Mesa College Technician Program): Mesa College students pursing an education in the Radiology Technician Program are provided an opportunity to assist staff and observe technicians in the performance of their job duties.
  • Radiology Research
    Assist research coordinator with research MRI scheduling, data collection and data management. Organizing of IRB/FDA documentation for research studies, contact and confirm research subject appointments. Answer phones, handle detailed messages, filing, CD imaging downloading.
  • Rehabilitation Services
    Volunteers assist physical, occupational, and speech therapy staff by doing paperwork, cleaning equipment, changing beds, cleaning mats and running errands. Students interested in pursuing a career in therapies are provided opportunities to observe the activities of the professional therapy staff as they work with patients in the Rehabilitation Services Department or in the patient care units.
  • Same Day Surgery (PACU and Surgical Waiting Info Desk)
    • PACU: Assist staff in the recovery area of the operating room by doing tasks such as errands, deliveries, transports, and paperwork. Volunteers also visit with, answer questions for, and sit at the bedside of recovering surgical patients.
    • Surgical Waiting Info Desk: Volunteers greet and assist patients coming in for Same Day Surgery procedures and visitors/families waiting for surgical patients. Volunteers track whereabouts of families and locate them for consult with surgeon or other staff members. (Additionally, volunteers assist staff through running errands, patient transports, deliveries, changing beds, and doing paperwork projects.)
  • Senior Behavioral Medicine
    Volunteers set up and assist with activities, games, and crafts. Volunteers interact with patients one-on-one by playing games and crafts, engaging them in conversation and reading to them. Additionally, volunteers assist the staff by assembling packets, retrieving references, assisting with mail distribution, and other clerical duties.
  • Spiritual Care
    Provide spiritual and emotional support to patients, family members, and friends, with respect for their beliefs, culture, traditions, and value system. Participate in patient rounds. Console, comfort, and provide strength to patients faced with serious illness and/or difficult decisions.
  • Tender Loving Canine Program
    Program permits dogs that have been licensed to conduct visitations to designated patient care areas after being screened by a California licensed dog trainer. Dogs must be bathed and brushed prior to each visitation along with trimmed nails and cleaned ears. Dog must be on leash at all times and handler must have exceptional interpersonal skills, and must be capable of dealing with people of varying ages and degrees of illness.

Thornton Hospital, La Jolla

  • Critical Care Units (ICU or IMU)
    Support to Unit staff by performing tasks such as errands, transporting specimens and equipment, patient transport assistance, cleaning and changing beds, stocking supplies and telephone and administrative assistance. This is a fast-paced and intense environment.
  • EEG/ Epilepsy Research
    Alphabetizing, filing, answering phones, mailing reports, help with Epilepsy Research Study; some patient interaction.
  • Emergency Department
    Support to department staff by performing tasks such as errands, transporting equipment, patient transport assistance, cleaning and changing beds, stocking supplies, and telephone and administrative assistance. Must be 18 years of age and completed high school.
  • Music Volunteers
    Volunteer musicians provide music as a therapeutic tool for patients.
  • Pharmacy (Outpatient)
    Students and others interested in pursuing a career in the pharmacy industry assist Pharm.D.s and other staff members by doing inventory of supplies, checking for outdated medications, and administrative assistance. Must be 18 years of age and completed high school.
  • Radiology
    • Reception: Customer service at the reception desk in Main Radiology by answering question, giving directions and escorting/transporting patients. Spanish language skills are very helpful.
    • Student Program (for Mesa College Technician Program): Mesa College students pursing an education in the Radiology Technician Program are provided an opportunity to assist staff and observe technicians in the performance of their job duties.
  • Rehabilitation Services
    Volunteers assist physical, occupational, and speech therapy staff by doing paperwork, cleaning equipment, changing beds, cleaning mats and running errands. Students interested in pursuing a career in therapies are provided opportunities to observe the activities of the professional therapy staff as they work with patients in the Rehabilitation Services Department or in the patient care units.
  • Respiratory Care
    Assist with the in hospital transport of supplies and equipment, preparing information data entry, and packaging of supply kits. (NO POSITIONS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE)
  • Same Day Surgery (PACU and Surgical Waiting Info Desk)
    • PACU: Assist staff in the recovery area of the operating room by doing tasks such as errands, deliveries, transports, and paperwork. Volunteers also visit with, answer questions for, and sit at the bedside of recovering surgical patients.
    • Surgical Waiting Info Desk: Volunteers greet and assist patients coming in for Same Day Surgery procedures and visitors/families waiting for surgical patients. Volunteers track whereabouts of families and locate them for consult with surgeon or other staff members. (Additionally, volunteers assist staff through running errands, patient transports, deliveries, changing beds, and doing paperwork projects.)
  • Spiritual Care
    Provide spiritual and emotional support to patients, family members, and friends, with respect for their beliefs, culture, traditions, and value system. Participate in patient rounds. Console, comfort, and provide strengthe to patients faced with serious illness and/or difficult decisions.
  • Tender Loving Canine Program
    Program permits dogs that have been licensed to conduct visitations to designated patient care areas after being screened by a California licensed dog trainer. Dogs must be bathed and brushed prior to each visitation along with trimmed nails and cleaned ears. Dog must be on leash at all times and handler must have exceptional interpersonal skills, and must be capable of dealing with people of varying ages and degrees of illness.

Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, La Jolla

  • CV ICU
    Answering phones, review charts, stock supplies, run labs, visit with patients.
  • Procedural Treatment Unit
    Assist at reception desk, escort families and patients, assist with wheelchair discharge, general errand running in the unit, answer phones.

Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla

  • Administrative Help
    Volunteers assist with various administrative tasks such as filing, preparing mailings, copying, etc.
  • Infusion Center
    Volunteers offer support to patients and their families in treatment. This may involve listening, conversation, reading; getting food or drink, etc. Wonderful opportunity for one-on-one patient interaction.
  • Light One Little Candle
    This national non-profit foundation helps parents and caregivers with cancer bond with their children through reading. Volunteers wheel a book cart with new children’s books throughout the cancer center, letting patients with children know about the program and offering free books. This is a volunteer-run program and volunteers help in the maintenance of Light One Little Candle (seeking book donations and sending thank you letters, keeping basic inventory, etc.)
  • Navigator
    Greeting and directing patients and visitors around the cancer center, including tours.
  • Patient and Family Education Center
    Volunteers offer listening and support, assist visitors with cancer-related educational materials and resource information, give special comfort items and wigs.
  • Research
    Volunteers may assist in various departments from outreach and prevention to literature searches for patients. Please visit: http://cancer.ucsd.edu/about-us/careers-volunteers/Pages/outreach.aspx to sign up.

Shiley Eye Clinic, La Jolla

  • Glaucoma
    Collaborate with clinicians, vision scientists, staff research associates on clinical research of glaucoma. Perform tasks related to data collection, data analysis and database entry in accordance with established protocols. Evaluate data in multiple databases to assess quality control and perform corrections. And clerical tasks. (NO POSITIONS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE)
  • Surgery
    Assist patients with changing clothes before and after surgery. Obtain coffee and juice for post-op patients and families. Escort patients to their automobiles and clerical tasks.