Volunteer Services
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the UAB Health System.
Volunteers are special people who are part of our team of world-class healthcare providers. Whether you are an adult, college student, or teenager, volunteering at UAB can be a rewarding experience. As part of the UAB family, volunteers strive to adhere to the Core Values of the UAB Health System:
Always care – Listen with empathy, be compassionate, and support those in need.
Own it – Be accountable, take action, and make it happen.
Work together – Think win-win; build consensus; and play your role on the team.
Do right – Follow through, work with principles, and do no harm.
You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.
~Winston Churchill
Many times, we find ourselves wanting to serve and give back to our communities. Volunteering is not only a way to give back but also a way to find joy and satisfaction in life. By volunteering at UAB Medicine, you will become an important part of the success of the medical center and will find yourself making a difference in the lives of our patients, guests, and staff. In addition to directly impacting the patient experience, volunteers can enhance their own business and personal skills, experience different aspects of healthcare, build a resume, and make lifelong connections with others in the community.
UAB Medicine accepts volunteers of many ages. Our high school volunteers are ages 15-18 and volunteer for three weeks during the summer. Our college volunteers are currently enrolled college students who volunteer four hours per week for one full semester. Our adult volunteers are those 19 years of age and older who commit to one full year of service, four hours each week.
Being a volunteer at UAB Medicine will expand your horizons and give you a sense of pride and accomplishment.
Some of the areas where volunteers are serving include:
- In-Patient Nursing Units
- Ambulatory Clinics
- Administrative Offices
- Gift Shops
- Hospital Bingo / Clowns
- Golf Cart Team
- H.E.L.P. (Hospital Elder Life Program trains volunteers to help prevent cognitive and functional decline in older hospitalized adults)
- Palliative and Comfort Care
- Pet Therapy Teams
- Helping Hands (Nursery Volunteers)
- The Angel Squad (Adult Volunteers in the Breast Health Clinic)
- The 1917 Clinic
- AND MUCH, MUCH, MORE
Thank you for your interest in volunteering. If you have questions or need assistance becoming a volunteer for UAB Medicine, please contact us by email at volunteerservices@uabmc.edu or by telephone at (205) 934-4270.
Adult Volunteers are volunteers 19 years and older. Adult volunteers serve in areas all over the medical center. UAB Medicine Volunteer Services is a demand-based program, and we place our volunteers where they are needed. We do, however, always consider your interests and talents when assigning your area of service. There are also wonderful benefits offered to our volunteers at UAB Medicine:
- Free parking
- Meal tickets
- Gift shop discount
- Volunteer events
- Service awards
If you are interested in volunteering with UAB Medicine, please complete an application and submit it to volunteerservices@uabmc.edu. If you have questions or need assistance, please call our office at (205)934-4270.
College is an exciting time in a student’s life, filled with new experiences. For students interested in making the most of their college experience, volunteering at UAB Medicine is a great way to give back, make connections, and enhance your skills and resume. Students interested in pursuing advanced degrees in health sciences, nursing, medicine, PT, OT, and ST often seek volunteer experience to augment their applications for those programs.
The College Volunteer Program is held during the Fall and Spring Semesters. The volunteer commitment for college students is one four-hour shift each week for the full semester. If you are interested in becoming a College Volunteer, please complete an application and submit it to volunteerservices@uabmc.edu. If you have questions or need assistance, please call our office at (205)934-4270.
Spring 2025 College Volunteer Important Dates:
Application Deadline: January 13, 2025
Required Orientation: January 29, 2025
Fall 2025 College Volunteer Important Dates:
Application Deadline: August 25, 2025
Required Orientation: September 10, 2025
Through the Teen Volunteer Program (TVP), UAB Medicine offers high school students the opportunity to volunteer in clinical and administrative areas throughout the medical center. Our TVP volunteers get the experience of applying, interviewing, and volunteering as well as weekly lunch and learn sessions, art projects, and field trips. If you are a mature, responsible high school student interested in serving your community and learning more about careers in healthcare, TVP is the volunteer program for you!
TVP takes place each summer and is comprised of two three-week sessions (specific dates vary each year). To be eligible for the Teen Volunteer Program, students must:
- Be at least 15 years of age by June 1st
- Be actively enrolled in high school
- Submit a complete application packet, including references and essay questions
- Attend an in-person interview at UAB Hospital
- Purchase a TVP uniform (Cost is $20)
- Commit to attend the entire TVP session for which you apply
2025 Teen Volunteer Program Application and Information will go live here in February 2025.
In 1949, a group of caring women saw a need for Volunteer Services within UAB Hospital. They organized the Board of Lady Managers, which subsequently became the UAB Hospital Auxiliary. These civic-minded women set the pattern and ideals that continue today. The UAB Hospital Auxiliary is recognized as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
In the early years, Auxiliary support to the UAB community included:
- Purchasing medications for indigent patients,
- Purchasing life-saving equipment for the hospital,
- Awarding nursing student scholarships,
- Decorating living quarters for nurses, and
- Providing new TV sets and orthopedic equipment for polio patients
More recently, the Auxiliary has provided funding to over a dozen programs at UAB Medicine designed to assist and enhance the experience of our patients and their families. Some of the Auxiliary’s most recent donation to UAB Medicine programs were:
- $100,000 to assist in transplant patient lodging
- Community outreach support for The 1917 Clinic
- Donation of over 3,000 meal tickets to Care Transitions for families visiting UAB Medicine
- Support for the Beads of Courage Program in the RNICU and CCN
Today, the Auxiliary is comprised of dedicated women and men who give a substantial amount of their time and talents as volunteers at UAB Medicine.
For more information about the Auxiliary and how you can become a part of their work, please call our office at (205) 934-4270.
To learn more about joining our team, call Volunteer Services at 205.934.4270 or e-mail us at volunteerservices@uabmc.edu.