Volunteer Services | UPMC Shadyside

Volunteering at UPMC Shadyside

As volunteers at UPMC Shadyside, you become part of the UPMC team to support our mission of offering:

Quality patient care.
Outstanding education of our future doctors, surgeons, and health care staff.
Cutting-edge treatments through our biomedical research.

Perks of Volunteering

Free parking
Free meal voucher up to $6 on volunteer days

Other benefits include:

Helping others
Gaining worthwhile career experience
Making lasting friendships

Volunteer Requirements at UPMC Shadyside

Must be 18 years of age or older.
Attend orientation where a volunteer coordinator will match your interests and schedule with the hospital's needs.
Submit required paperwork provided by Volunteer Coordinator.
Have a valid Social Security Number.

We Accept Donated Items

For our patients and their families to use while in the hospital, we always accept new or gently used:

Magazines
Puzzle books
Adult coloring books and colored pencils
Playing cards
Word searches
And more!

Volunteer Opportunities at UPMC Shadyside

See below for some of the ways you can volunteer to help patients, families, and UPMC staff.

Not all opportunities listed are available at all times. Opportunities will be discussed in further detail during the interview process.

Apply to volunteer at UPMC Shadyside.

Clerical volunteers will be responsible for filing, organizing, and working on various projects throughout the hospital. There are various departments throughout the hospital that always need clerical help.

Volunteers wash patients' hair.

Assist the staff by providing comfort for patients. Responsibilities may also include cleaning and sanitizing equipment, stocking supplies, and other various tasks.

The HELP Program itself is an academically oriented program intended for undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare. It is designed to prevent delirium in hospitalized patients age 70 and older.

Learn more about the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP).

Volunteers can becoming a part of our Healing Notes program where they can play music for patients, families, and staff throughout our facilities.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to assist the medical staff in various ways including restocking medical supplies, filling water pitchers, emptying linen carts, and visiting with patients and their families.

If you want to combine exercise with community service, become a physical therapy volunteer. Escorts take patients to therapy via wheelchair. These volunteers are able to provide a friendly visit with patients on the way to therapy.

Contact Us

Volunteer Services
UPMC Shadyside
5230 Centre Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15232

412-623-2017
SHYvolunteer@upmc.edu

Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP)
UPMC Shadyside
5230 Centre Avenue
Mail Stop HSY020308
Pittsburgh, PA 15232

412-623-HELP
helpvolref@upmc.edu

Learn more about UPMC Volunteer Services or view Frequently Asked Volunteer Questions.

Testimonials

"My position allowed me to get to know the patients beyond a simple 'Hi, how are you doing?' On most days, I kept company with patients who might not have received many visitors. I listened to them share stories of how they met their spouses, their favorite aspect of their jobs, their hobbies and future dreams, and importantly, their worries about their diagnoses. It felt great being able to bring smiles to their faces in the midst of a stressful hospital stay."

Heba Mahjoub
Patient Care Volunteer on Surgical Oncology Unit (4 Main)

"I always start with a simple question or comment... "So, are you from Pittsburgh?" And then, I let the patients guide the conversation. Sometimes, patients don't want to talk and the conversation ends there, allowing them to relax as they get their hair washed. But once in a while, patients open up and talk about their families, their life story, or their hopes and dreams. It is really powerful to have someone confide in you that way and many people just want someone to listen to them, to care."

Jan Niec
Doo Crew Volunteer

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Volunteering at UPMC Shadyside

Perks of Volunteering

Volunteer Requirements at UPMC Shadyside

We Accept Donated Items

Volunteer Opportunities at UPMC Shadyside

Contact Us

Testimonials

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