Volunteer at UC San Diego Health

Volunteers support patients and staff in clinical care areas with tasks such as helping with patient transport, errands, stocking, cleaning, lab deliveries and visiting with patients.

Other duties can include greeting patients and families, answering visitor questions and helping with wayfinding.

Applications are screened individually and require two professional/educational reference responses that are not from friends or family members. Volunteers are not selected on a first-come, first-served basis.

Specifically, we would like to know your availability, your motivation for volunteering, the qualities you have that you think will enhance our program, and the areas of UC San Diego Health that interest you.

Volunteers may be placed at one of our hospitals or clinics in San Diego County, depending on available volunteer opportunities.

Yes. Our Tender Loving Canines (TLC) teams have trained pet therapy dogs and are affiliated with a recognized pet therapy organization. These volunteers provide pet therapy visits to patients, families and staff members in the hospital on a regular basis.

Please email us for additional information.

Yes. You are not permitted to volunteer in a department in which you previously worked or where a family member works.

If you're accepted, you may be able to start in two to three months after applying, depending on how quickly you move through the onboarding process.

You will receive an email with additional information if your application is not accepted.

We are not able to accept court-ordered service applications.

Yes, you must meet several medical requirements to volunteer at UC San Diego Health. You will need to provide the following documents:

• Proof of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chicken pox)
• Proof of a flu vaccination annually during flu season
• A record of one COVID-19 vaccination
• Clearance for tuberculosis (TB) — if you are accepted into the program, UC San Diego Health will provide that screening

No, shadowing is not part of our volunteer program.

Learn more about observation opportunities and other Education and Training programs.

Due to government restrictions, people in some visa classifications may not be eligible to participate in the volunteer program. Contact Volunteer Services at volsvcs@health.ucsd.edu for more information.

Initial steps: The application review and interview process can take an average of one month to complete.

Volunteer applications may take up to 10 business days to review. Your application will not be reviewed until your references have been received. Delayed reference responses will delay your application review.

You will receive an email confirming whether your application was accepted or rejected.

If your application is accepted, you must schedule a virtual interview within 5 days.

After scheduling your interview, you will receive an email with more information about how to prepare for your interview.

Onboarding steps: If you’re accepted after your interview, here are the steps required to become an official volunteer. Detailed instructions will be provided when you are accepted. Completing all the steps takes one month on average.

• Provide immunizations/vaccination records.
• Schedule and receive a TB test.
• Review and sign acknowledgments and agreements.
• Accept and pass a background check.
• Complete online training courses.
• Complete an in-person orientation and tour.
• Fulfill training requirements in your volunteer department.

There is no link between Human Resources and Volunteer Services, so if you are interested in jobs at UC San Diego Health, check the employment website.