The University of Connecticut Health Leaders (UCHL) is a community-based, pre-health program founded for bridging health care disparities by addressing the social determinants of health for the State of Connecticut. UCHL functions all year, focusing on training pre-professional students on how they can help advocate and improve the way we deliver health care for our patients.

• Click here for general student volunteer program information.
• Summer Session 2024 application period opens March 3 and closes April 1: click here for more information.

Visit the Leaders page at UConn Health or contact (Storrs) Jill Skowrenski: jill.skowrenski@uconn.edu or Lauren Wilson: lauren.wilson@uconn.edu or (Waterbury) Tamara Kalaliszewski: tamara.kaleszewski@uconn.edu.

Our Purposeful Visitor Program is seeking volunteers who want to give back to our aging population with day-to-day interactions, conversations, activities, and assistance with other needs that the unit may have in order to keep our seniors healthy and safe! This is a 1- to 2-day weekly commitment with on-site training provided. This position may require pushing an activity cart and lots of walking and talking.

Learn more about Donors and Volunteers | UConn Health

The primary purpose of the program to provide support to the state of Connecticut in reducing the non-medical use of prescription drugs, prevent opioid overdoses in the community, and improve the lives and health of our CT communities. Learning opportunities are designed by involved University faculty and staff, students, and CT Health Districts and Departments to provide students with transformative learning experiences and real-world work environments.

Contact the Program Manager, Peaches Udoma, at peaches.udoma@uconn.edu, and copy AHS Program Specialist, jill.skowrenski@uconn.edu, for information or to apply.

Hartford Hospital Mobility Volunteer Program:  The Mobility volunteer program provides support to patients that need assistance and encouragement to get out of bed and walk to help maintain functional status.  Overseen by the department of Rehabilitation, volunteers are trained to function in this role on assigned nursing units interacting directly with patients and staff.  More information can be learned in the video on this website: https://hartfordhospital.org/health-professionals/for-job-seekers/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities (scroll down to Mobility is Medicine).  Shifts are available at Hartford Hospital (80 Seymour Street Hartford) 7 days a week 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon or 1:00-4:00 p.m.  Volunteers must commit to volunteering at least two semesters to receive credit.

Applicants for this program must:

• Contact Eileen Pelletier, Director of Volunteer Services Eileen.Pelletier@hhchealth.org and complete an interview by April 19^th.
• All hospital on-boarding requirements must be completed by June 14^th.  Requirements include:
  • On-line application
  • On-line education (volunteer orientation, patient privacy law education, etc.)
  • Background check release form
  • Medical information: MMR vaccine, Varicella vaccine, Tdap immunization, Tuberculosis test.  (Please note that a flu vaccine will be required in the fall of 2024.)
  • Hospital ID documentation: proof of identity such as a drivers license, motor vehicle registration (if parking will be requested), and a portrait photo
• Classroom training will be held on Wednesday, September 18^th 5:00-8:00 p.m. and a minimum of two on-unit training sessions will be scheduled after (on-unit trainings are only available weekdays)
• Weekly shifts will be confirmed prior to training and must be the same day/time each week for the semester.
• Additional requirements for AHS students to receive internship credit: AH 3091 Internship Guidebook.pdf(Shared) - Adobe cloud storage

Thank you for your interest in this program that supports our patients and provides an in-depth experience in an acute care setting.

There are over 200 positions available to volunteers throughout Hartford Hospital. Many of these opportunities include patient interaction.

Volunteer positions require:

• one 3-hour shift per week for at least 6 months unless otherwise indicated (For example, Mobility is Medicine requires a 2-semester commitment. Students need to apply by May.)
• immunization requirements
• onboarding requirements which include online education modules
• transportation

For more information go to Volunteer Opportunities | hartfordhospital.org | Hartford Hospital | Hartford, CT.

If interested, email Eileen Pelletier at Eileen.Pelletier@hhchealth.org and let her know that you are a UConn AHS student and which opportunities are of most interest to you.

There is a potential for many of these opportunities to count for a 1-credit internship experience!

Learn about the EMT Training program at UConn Storrs or UConn Waterbury.