High School Medical Volunteering: A Guide

What is it?

Medical volunteering is a great way to connect with your community in a meaningful manner. By investing time into the healthcare scene, high school students like yourself, can learn about clinical practices, meet medical professionals, and engage personally in medicine.

It's important to remember that medical volunteering isn't about seeing surgeries and medical practices, it's about helping people and the community first. You don't have to be a medical aspirant to volunteer medically, in fact, many positions require little to no patient interaction. Keep in mind that the science of medicine is just an aspect of the vast dynamic of healthcare.

Below are a few types of medical volunteering you can look into and my thoughts for students.

Hospital Volunteer Programs

Pros: Volunteering at a hospital, public or private, might as well be the jackpot of medical volunteering. Depending on the size of the hospital, there are numerous departments in which you can volunteer. From the Emergency Room to the clerical documentation department, hospitals are usually able to cater to your interests. You can also swap between departments to get a well-rounded view of the environment. Hospital volunteering programs also tend to host events and other side activities where you can engage further depending on your interest. You may get a cool badge and some custom merch as well!

Cons: It's really hard to get a spot. Most hospitals are overwhelmed with high school applicants and tend to give preference to older students (Juniors and Seniors). Most have age restrictions for students over 16 years old. The application process itself can be quite lengthy with introductory seminars, vaccination appointments, and position openings. Personally, I had to apply to four different hospitals in my area before I was able to get a spot, and then another four months of procedures and waiting took place. Because of such lengthy procedures, hospitals will usually place you in a binding contract, something like a 100-hour requirement (4 hr/week for 6 months), and will track your attendance heavily. If you can't stick to a given time and day every week, this may not be the best option for you.

Private Clinical Practices

Pros: A much more specialized opportunity for volunteering. If you live near a city, there are bound to be dozens of private practices accessible by a simple google search. If you are interested in a specific field of medicine like cardiology or neuroscience, this could be a great option. You will get a more personal experience with medical staff and more patient experiences. There isn't as much demand for volunteering here, so you won't have to compete with other high schools for a spot. You may also get the chance to set your times and days, depending on the flexibility of the clinic, which may be a benefactor for you.

Cons: Most clinics do not have a specific volunteer program. You will have to specifically email or call the doctor/clinic and find out if they can accommodate you. It can be quite hard to find a place that will take you because some clinics aren't equipped to accommodate younger students. Furthermore, without a designated program, you are taking a risk with your volunteering experience: it might be all that you wished or it may be boring and uneventful. You may have to head back to the google "clinics near me" page a few times.

Medical Non-Profit Organziations

Pros: These are usually event-based volunteering rather than specifically scheduled opportunities. Great for varied timings and weekend activities that don't bind you to a schedule. This type of volunteering is more organizational and labored rather than hospitality based. Through this route, you have the opportunity to volunteer in organizations where you believe in their mission and show your support through advocacy and youth leadership positions. Non-profits may have online volunteering opportunities for your convenience as well.

Cons: There usually won't be any direct contact with patients, doctors, or medical staff. Also, events tend to be spaced monthly, so those seeking to get regular volunteering may not get the opportunity. The process for becoming a registered volunteer is usually quite taxing, especially for younger students, and can take weeks to get registered into the system. Coordinating with event guides can also be challenging.

Where do I start?

Finding these volunteering positions isn't easy, but it's all about being open and investing time into finding opportunities. Be active and on the lookout for spots from an in-school program, through online scavenging, or personal references.

School clubs can be a great place to start. Look for clubs like "HOSA" (Health Occupations Students of America) organizations, "*Insert State* medical practitioners," or Science Honor Societies. Many times, the clubs do the hard work for you finding local events or creating their own. You might even fall in love with the community and find new friends, and look into leadership positions.

Online hunting is the tried and tested approach to finding these opportunities directly. I would start by checking out the websites of local and regional general hospitals. Usually, there is a tab specifically for volunteering where you can check if you meet their requirements. Broaden your scope by checking out wellness centers, therapist offices, dentistry, specialized clinics, and retirement homes. Non-profit organizations like the American Red Cross and United Way are also options to look into. Retirement homes, specifically, usually have volunteer programs that you can find with a quick phone call or email. If you love a health center but don't see any volunteering positions, never be afraid to send a sincere and kind email expressing your concern about volunteering. Many times, they could use the help but haven't gotten around to making it official.

Personal connections are another easy way to find some of these opportunities. If you or your parents know people in a medical position, make sure to reach out and ask to help out. In the worst case, you get a quick "no" and don't have to labor through websites and procedures to find out the same response.

Final Thoughts

Medical volunteering is a wonderful experience to help the community, put yourself in the medical environment, and create memories along the way. There are quite a few ways to get involved as a high schooler but it's not an easy process. Despite the boring procedures and webpage scrolling, I believe the experiences you gain from volunteering are truly rewarding on your medical journey.