Hospital Volunteer Miami

Monetary donations are used to purchase comfort items and to provide the ‘little extras’ that make a lengthy hospital stay more bearable.

Volunteering at UHealth

A friendly face, a warm smile, an offer to help … A personal touch can transform your experience at the hospital. At UHealth, our volunteers are just one of the ways we provide a welcoming, healing environment. They offer a personal touch to put our patients and visitors at ease.

As a hospital volunteer, you can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life — just by being there. Whether you want to give back to your community, meet new people, learn new skills, or see what it is like to work in healthcare, volunteering is a rewarding experience.

We rely on volunteers throughout UHealth, which includes Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, UHealth Tower, and 31 outpatient sites. As the region’s only academic health system, we’re committed to promoting the health and well-being of our community and playing a critical role in addressing these needs for everyone. Our volunteers help us fulfill this commitment.

Who are UHealth volunteers?

Volunteering is a good choice for anyone who likes helping others. Our volunteers range in age from teens to seniors and come from a variety of backgrounds.

Volunteering can be particularly gratifying for:

• Students or anyone considering a health care career. Get an insider’s view of what it’s like to work at an academic medical center. See researchers, medical residents, and a variety of patient care providers in action in their daily roles.
• Former UHealth or Sylvester patients or family members. Your experience gives you insight and understanding that allows you support patients and their loved ones during a challenging time.
• Retirees or seniors. Your wisdom and experience are valued at UHealth. Our patients and their family members can count on you to keep them informed and reassured.

Who can volunteer?

If you’re passionate about helping others, you’ll make a great volunteer. You must be a citizen or legal permanent resident of the U.S. We ask that all our volunteers commit to at least one, three- or four-hour shift a week for one year.

Volunteers must be at least 16 years old. All volunteers under 18 must have a parent or guardian complete a consent form.

To become a UHealth volunteer, you need to:

• Complete an application
• Interview
• Meet all occupational health requirements, including proof of required immunizations and vaccinations
• Complete a security background check
• Complete and pass online training modules
• Complete a mandatory volunteer orientation

All our volunteers receive training on UHealth policies and procedures and must follow these requirements, including maintaining patient confidentiality according to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and follow the dress code.

UHealth volunteer opportunities

We offer a variety of volunteer roles and make sure you have the information and training to make you feel confident as a UHealth volunteer. In addition to new volunteer orientation, you’ll receive customer service training, a hospital tour and orientation to floors you’ll visit as a volunteer, and a review of infection control and other safety-related precautions.

We’re currently looking for volunteers to fill the following roles.

We are also looking for book donations. If you have gently used books or current magazines, please bring them to the Don Soffer Clinical Research Center.

Get started

For more information about volunteering at UHealth, visit our FAQs. To learn more, email or call us at 305-243-4032.

Questions? We’re here to help.

Request more information or learn how to apply for this UHealth volunteer role.

Volunteer or donate

The Miami VA Healthcare System depends on the goodwill of our benefactors and volunteers who wish to give something back to America’s heroes. Find out here how you can make a difference in the lives of our Veterans.

We appreciate the loving support our community has bestowed on our Veterans.

Mailing address for Miami VA Healthcare System’s Center for Development and Civic Engagement

Miami VA Healthcare System
Center for Development and Civic Engagement Office
1201 N.W. 16th St.
Miami, FL 33125

Phones

Volunteering

Volunteers provide many important functions to help provide our patients an enjoyable, positive experience. Volunteers can perform a number of services, and a volunteer’s talents are closely matched with one of our many assignments.

To volunteer, call or visit the Miami VAHS VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement Office, formerly known as the Voluntary Service Office. We will be happy to receive your application or discuss how you can help us in our mission to provide comfort and care to America’s veterans.

Volunteer Benefits

As a member of our volunteer team, you will receive:

• General orientation to the volunteer program
• Job specific orientation
• Immediate gratification – You earn points for the smiles you induce
• Improved health
• Free parking
• Meal ticket for lunch (after 4 or more hours of service)
• Free Flu shots (for adults and for youth volunteers with parental signature)
• Letters of recommendation (after 100 hours of service)
• Eligibility for scholarships offered by Veteran service organizations and VA
• Training opportunities

Giving

Monetary donations are used to purchase comfort items and to provide the ‘little extras’ that make a lengthy hospital stay more bearable.

Non-monetary contributions such as reading material, pre-paid phone cards, new underwear, t-shirts, socks, games, puzzle books, individually packaged snacks are accepted for use by our patients.

Special Needs: Our OEF/OIF – Iraq Veterans could use help with gift cards for groceries, baby food, diapers, prepaid phone cards, new underwear, t-shirts and socks.

Homeless Veterans could use hygiene kits, with items such as lotion, lip balm, sunscreen, bug spray, tampons/napkins, shaving cream and razors, new underwear, t-shirts and socks, as well as size large walking shorts and sandals (size 9 – 13).

If you are interested in becoming a Miami VA volunteer or have questions about making a donation, please contact the Miami VA Healthcare System in Miami at 305-575-3140 or at the William “Bill” Kling VA Clinic at 954-625-8655.

E-Donate

Simple. Speedy. Safe. The E-Donate online service gives community members who wish to give back to Veterans a quick, safe way to pledge their support. Through E-Donate, donors can choose to donate to a number of funds at the medical center. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs administrative costs are appropriated so donors can be 100 percent certain their donations will go directly to the funds and Veteran patients they select.

Money donated at the Miami VA Healthcare System goes to support Veteran programs, like recreational therapy. The actual donation is made through a secure site at the Department of Treasury. A minimum of $5 is required for online donation and you can donate using an electronic payment (i.e. credit card, debit card, etc.). To make a donation, click here.

Last updated: October 13, 2022