Boston, the home of Harvard, has some of the best medical health and training centers in the world.
Before we get into the list of hospital volunteer programs in Boston, make sure you check out our other city guides and find more hospital volunteer opportunities near you.
Hospital Volunteer Listings In Boston
| Name | Postal Code | Phone | Website |
| Boston Children’s Hospital | MA 02115 | 617-355-6000 | childrenshospital.org |
| Brigham and Women’s Hospital | MA 02115 | 617-732-5500 | brighamandwomens.org |
| Massachusetts General Hospital | MA 02114 | 617-726-8540 | massgeneral.org |
| Boston Medical Hospital | MA 02118 | 617-414-5122 | bmc.org |
| Tufts Medical Center | MA 02111 | 617-636-5000 | tuftsmedicalcenter.org |
| Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) | MA 02215 | 781-453-5499 | bidmc.org |
| Newton-Wellesley Hospital | MA 02459 | 617-243-6172 | nwh.org |
| Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program | MA 02118 | 857-654-1000 | bhchp.org |
Boston Children’s Hospital Volunteers
Perhaps you’re a student or professional interested in learning more about medicine. Perhaps you’re a retired senior or a stay-at-home parent who wants to get more engaged in your neighborhood. Volunteering at Boston Children’s Hospital can be a fun and fulfilling experience, regardless of your occupation or history.
The volunteer chapter has trained more than 500 individuals who’ve all given up their time as inpatient/clinic, customer service, patient family housing program volunteers, and more!
Here’s a quick rundown of the roles volunteers play:
- Create a friendly environment at the hospital’s main entrance and assist all patients, family, and visitors with directions
- Assist patients and their families as they prepare to leave the hospital
- Deliver flowers and balloons to patients and their relatives
- Play games with kids and assist them in completing non-medical activities
There are also independent Summer Programs for both Adults and Teens that start in early June. Both give participants the chance to see medicine from the inside, volunteering in inpatient units.
See the video below for an inside look at how life can be volunteering at the hospital…
Details
- Name: Boston Children’s Hospital
- Location: 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Suffolk County, MA 02115
- Phone: 617-355-6000
- Website: childrenshospital.org/volunteer-services
Brigham and Women’s Hospital Volunteering
The Brigham and Women’s Hospital invite members of the general public to become a member of their volunteer team.
The hospital relies heavily on volunteers to run its day-to-day operations, and you’ll be hands-on in the following roles:
- Assisting in research labs
- Working with patients and support hospital staff
- Assisting hospital staff
Volunteers must be at least 15 years of age and give a minimum of six months of service.
The hospital’s Medical Career Exploration Volunteer Program is another interesting initiative to get involved with. It places undergrads in various clinical rotations across the hospital, culminating in a letter of recommendation and the opportunity to round with a physician for one day.
If you’re lucky you may get to work with some of the doctors and residents featured in the following video.
Details
- Name: Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Location: 75 Francis Street, Boston, Suffolk County, MA 02115
- Phone: 617-732-5500
- Website: brighamandwomens.org/volunteer
Massachusetts General Hospital Volunteers
The volunteer program at Massachusetts General Hospital is by far one of the best ever for shaping and sharpening the principles of young healthcare students, as well as boosting their sympathy and desire to deliver care to the public.
In nearly every discipline and specialization of medicine and surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital provides sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic services. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Mass General as one of America’s Best Hospitals and it’s the oldest and largest teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School (see our article:
Their volunteer department is searching for assistance in more than 20 areas, including radiation oncology, patient family learning, and pediatrics. General volunteers must be at least 16 and able to commit to a minimum of 4 months of uninterrupted service.
High school students might be particularly interested in their Junior Volunteer Program.
Check out the video below for a “day in the life” snapshot of a Mass General Hospital volunteer…
Details
- Name: Massachusetts General Hospital
- Location: Gray/Bigelow Basement, Suite 015, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114
- Phone: 617-726-8540
- Contact: mghvolunteer@partners.org
- Website: massgeneral.org/volunteer
Boston Medical Center Volunteer Services
Boston Medical Hospital (BMC) is a 514-bed academic medical center in Boston that is run by a non-profit organization.
The Volunteer Services Department is dedicated to helping BMC complete its mission, working alongside patients, their families, and staff.
Volunteers are assigned to specific areas of the hospital-based on their areas of interest. Only a commitment to the hospital is specified as a criterion.
They are looking for people to help in the following roles:
- Assist with inventory, food pick-up and stocking, and supporting patients with food pantry shopping
- Welcome patients and visitors to the medical campus and accompany them to their appointments
- Bring reading materials, crossword puzzles, coloring books, and other activities to the waiting areas
Something unique about their program is their Volunteer of the Month page, a dedicated place to celebrate and interview their volunteer team.
Their youngest volunteers are entering the junior year of high school but there’s also a Junior Summer Volunteer Program open.
You can get to know BMC better in the following video…
Details
- Name: Boston Medical Hospital
- Location: 725 Albany Street, Shapiro Center, Boston, Suffolk County, MA 02118
- Phone: 617-414-5122
- Website: bmc.org/volunteer-services
Tufts Medical Center Volunteers
Tufts Medical Center, the winner of The Outstanding Patient Experience Award, has a vibrant hospital volunteering community.
Their volunteers are asked to commit to at least one shift per week and a minimum of 12 months of service. Monday through Friday, the majority of the volunteer opportunities are in the mornings and afternoons. They only have a few evening and weekend slots available.
Volunteers can expect helping out with the following:
- Visiting inpatients
- Assisting in the Emergency Room
- Assisting with discharges
- Escorting patients around the facility
- Providing other non-medical support
Tufts also has a high school and college volunteer program via their Volunteen program.
Get to know more about this hospital in the video below…
Details
- Name: Tufts Medical Center Volunteers
- Location: 800 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111
- Phone: 617-636-5000
- Website: tuftsmedicalcenter.org/patient-care-services/volunteer-services
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) Volunteering
You can help patients and employees in a variety of ways as a volunteer at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). It’s also a terrific location to meet new people and try new things.
Short-term administrative tasks or placements requiring patient interaction, which need a six-month to year-long commitment, are available to volunteers.
Here’s the types of activities volunteers can get involved with:
- Serving as welcome ambassadors to the hospital
- Greeting visitors and escorting patients and family to appointments throughout the hospital
- Supporting medical personnel with non-clinical tasks
- Helping out in the hospital gift shop
- Sorting incoming mail
BIDMC asks that its volunteers are at least 15 years old and able to commit a total of 40 hours over a 6-12 month commitment.
High school students may be interested in the hospital’s Al and Trudy Agress Summer Health Corps Program, an educational hands-on program that runs for 5 weeks beginning in July.
Here’s an introduction into how at BIDMC could look…
Details
- Name: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC)
- Location: 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston-Massachusetts, Suffolk County, MA 02215
- Phone: 781-453-5499
- Website: bidmc.org/volunteer-services
Newton-Wellesley Hospital Volunteer Opportunities
Newton-Wellesley Hospital, a nonprofit corporation, is a great place to volunteer and develop your skills and experience.
Their cohort ranges from volunteers aged between 14 and 90, and are placed in nearly every area of the hospital.
Medical, surgical, obstetrical, pediatric, and psychiatric care are among the services provided by NWH. For almost a century, NWH has been serving its community. Nearly 1,000 physicians practice a wide range of disciplines on the Hospital’s medical staff.
Volunteers can assist in both inpatient and outpatient areas, playing a role across a large number of settings. The group expects a minimum of 3 hours volunteer service each week for a duration between 3-4 months. That’s 100 hours per year for adults and 50 for students.
There is also a popular Summer Student Volunteer Program for middle/high school students and college volunteers. Applications for the program open up in February.
For further insight into their hospital culture, take a look at the video below…
Details
- Name: Newton-Wellesley Hospital
- Location: 159 Wells Ave, Newton, MA 02459
- Phone: 617-243-6172
- Website: nwh.org/volunteer-opportunities
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
The objective of the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) is to offer high-quality care to homeless men, women, and children in the greater Boston area by collaborating with shelters, hospitals, and volunteers.
Volunteers are needed for both clinical and non-clinical roles. Non-clinical volunteers provide assistance in on-site care facilities, perform administrative tasks in an office setting, and organize off-site donation drives.
Details
- Name: Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
- Location : 780 Albany St, Boston, MA 02118
- Phone: 857-654-1000
- Website: bhchp.org
Boston is a good place for healthcare and clinical-based volunteering. Hopefully, this article has helped show you what’s out there in the hopes of getting started.
Related Questions
Why Be A Hospital Volunteer In Boston?
Volunteering in hospitals and clinics can have a positive impact on the community.
The skills, connections, and friends you make in any of the roles above, are something that’ll stay with you for a long time.
The experience also looks great on applications for healthcare-related degrees and helps you impress any relevant admissions boards.
Can I Be A Baby Cuddler Volunteer In Boston?
There are baby cuddler volunteer opportunities at the following organizations:
- Brigham and Women’s Pediatric Newborn Department
- Beth Isreal Deaconess (BIDMC) Newborn Cuddling Program
- Boston Children’s Hospital
You can find more information about both these hospitals (and their other volunteer programs) in the article above.
You’ll also need to match the eligibility criteria and undergo screening successfully before being accepted onto baby cuddler volunteer programs!
Who Are These Boston Hospital Volunteer Opportunities For?
These opportunities are broad and open to people from all backgrounds.
Summer programs are generally for high schoolers looking to get a taste of healthcare fields while general volunteering positions are available to both students and professionals.
Check that you meet the criteria and eligibility for each opportunity first.
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Born and raised in the UK, Will went into medicine late (31) after a career in journalism. He’s into football (soccer), learned Spanish after 5 years in Spain, and has had his work published all over the web. Read more.