Volunteer Application Process & Opportunities
Our application process involves:
- Check our Volunteer Services page to see if we are currently accepting new applications. Email us with any questions.
- Application form, including two references (not required for current employees)
- Interview
- CORI (adult volunteers only; not required for employees)
- Health clearance, including:
- Proof of immunizations, including MMR, COVID vaccines, COVID booster, and annual flu shot
- Tuberculosis test (Q-Gold or T-spot; skin test is not accepted) for roles that are 3 months or longer with patient interaction
- Remote roles do not require health clearance
- Training and orientation
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at our medical center!
Examples of Volunteer Roles at BIDMC
Antepartum/Postpartum Volunteer
Ages: 15 and up.
Description: Volunteers assist with stocking rooms, creating baby bags and NICU kits, creating patient packets, and delivering items to patients who are pre- or post-delivery of their babies.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 4 hours per week, once per week.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 6 months.
Brain Builders Volunteer
Ages: Over 18 and at least a sophomore in college.
Description: The aim of the Brain Builders volunteer program is to provide socially, emotionally and cognitively enriching environments for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other neurological conditions, including stroke, dementia, aneurysm, Parkinson’s and neurosurgery.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 2-3 hours per week, once per week.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 8 months; interest in neurology.
Comfort Cart Volunteer
Ages: 15 and up.
Description: Volunteers visit with patients on inpatient units and offer them reading material, newspapers, puzzle books, reading glasses, cards, and other items to make their stay at BIDMC more comfortable.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 3 hours, once per week.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 4 months.
Emergency Department Volunteer
Ages: 18 and up.
Description: Volunteers provide administrative support in the Emergency Department, assisting with scanning records and mailings. Occasionally as needed, volunteers may respond to some of the comfort needs for patients, however patient contact is not guaranteed, and the purpose of this role is to support staff.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: Weekly, 4 hours, once per week.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 6 months.
Eucharistic Minister
Description: Volunteers serve as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. This role is open to people who are active members of a Roman Catholic parish. Visits may involve connecting compassionately and praying with patients. Training is provided by one’s parish and the Spiritual Care Department.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: Weekly, 2-4 hours per week
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 6 months.
Please contact Jaime Riggs via email or phone for more information.
Food Services Volunteer
Ages: 15 and up.
Description: Volunteers assist with various tasks in the food services department, including preparing trays, packaging food and utensils, rounding on patients and capturing patient experience feedback. Wonderful opportunity to learn about food services, nutritional health, hospitality, and quality improvement.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 4 hours, once per week.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 6 months.
GI Unit Volunteer
Ages: 15 and up.
Description: Volunteers assist with patient check in, patient escort and transport, delivering items to patients, and clerical duties. This opportunity offers a blend of patient interaction and administrative experience. Weekdays only.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 4 hours per week, once per week.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 6 months.
Mental Health App Volunteer
Ages: 18 and up.
Description: We are seeking volunteers who want to learn more about mental health and help us evaluate mental health apps of interest to patients. Volunteers will be trained in app evaluation, help maintain the database, and have the opportunity to teach patients at BIDMC and those on the psychiatry inpatient unit about mental health apps. Volunteers will also be able to submit posters to national meetings as well as host webinars to share their findings and results from evaluating apps.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 6 hours per week, flexible. Can be entirely remote if preferred.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 6 months.
Nuclear Medicine Volunteer
Ages: 15 and up.
Description: Volunteers assist with clerical tasks such as pulling charts, pulling orders, and mailing letters, to help ensure that staff members have complete, well organized information in preparation for the patient visit. This is an administrative role, Tuesdays and Wednesdays only.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 4 hours per week, once per week, or 2 hours, twice per week.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 6 months.
PACU Volunteer
Ages: 18 and up.
Description: Volunteers assist staff in post-operative care unit to deliver food and drinks to patients, stock carts, make patient packets, coordinate patient transportation and escort patients to their rides, and collect patient belongings to return to patients. Weekdays only.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 4 hours per week, once per week.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 6 months.
Pharmacy Volunteer
Ages: 18 and up.
Description: Volunteers assist with inventory, logging of refrigerator temperatures, checking dates, and helping maintain clean and organized pharmacy shelving and work areas. Ideal for a student interested in a pharmacy career.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 3-4 hours, once per week.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 4 months once per week. Existing volunteers can do shorter commitment.
Pillow Makers and Knitters
Description: Volunteers are needed to sew heart-shaped comfort pillows used by breast cancer patients who are recovering from surgery. We also need volunteers to knit comfort shawls, which are given to patients to help provide comfort and compassion.
Radiation Oncology Volunteer
Ages: 15 and up.
Description: Volunteers assist front line and clinical staff with administrative tasks such as mailings and scanning patient records, assist patients and families as needed with wayfinding and creating a welcoming environment, and assist with deliveries, patient transport, and helping patients with directions. Weekdays only.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 3-4 hours per week, once per week.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 6 months.
Reiki Volunteer
Description: Trained Reiki volunteers provide Reiki sessions to patients throughout the hospital to patients and staff members, giving them with a few quiet moments to refocus and relax.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 2-3 hours per week, twice per month.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 1 year.
At least 6 months of Reiki practice experience preferred. Please contact Joyce Delgardo via email or phone for more information.
Simulated Family Member
Ages: 18 and up.
Description: Volunteers will participate in a role play which will simulate a family meeting with intern who is learning communication skills for critical care. Volunteers may be asked to provide feedback about how the conversation felt, from the perspective of a family member of an acutely ill patients.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 3 Wednesdays per month
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 8 months.
Vigil Volunteer
Ages: 21 and up or college graduate.
Description: Vigil Volunteers provide a supportive presence to patients nearing the end of life. The volunteer provides verbal or non-verbal support, which may include playing quiet music, reading, or just sitting with the patient.
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 2-3 hours, once per week between 3:30 pm - 8:00 pm, and 1 hour of note-writing following shift.
Other Eligibility: Available a minimum of 8 months.
