Clinic Volunteer Program

Duties can include:

• Assisting healthcare providers and nursing staff with patient care
• Taking vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, respirations, temperature)
• Applying certain orthopedic appliances
• Performing certain point-of-care lab tests

Returning volunteers (2nd or 3rd year) may learn additional clinical skills and work in the UHS Urgent Care Clinic.

Clinic volunteers must commit to at least four hours per week for two long semesters (fall & spring). All volunteers must display regular attendance and professional conduct. Those who perform satisfactorily at the end of the two-semester commitment may continue to participate if they wish. As returning volunteers, students can choose whether to continue volunteering 4 hours per week or reduce their time commitment to 2 hours per week. Summer participation is also available for experienced volunteers.

New students accepted into the program are required to enroll in the Fall Semester course HED 378D: Clinic Volunteer Program, and the Spring Semester course HED 178E: Clinic Volunteer Program. Each semester course consists of two parts: a 1.5-hour lecture and a 4-hour volunteer shift (to be scheduled at the start of the semester) per week. During the second semester, HED 178E will meet on a reduced schedule but attendance is still expected at all lectures. Enrollment in HED 378D and 178E is required as both courses contain content and lessons that are integral to supporting the volunteer’s role in the clinic. Both courses are offered for letter-grade and can count as elective credit in some degree plans. Prior to the start of the semester, volunteers are required to attend Volunteer Orientation, where they will complete the necessary compliance training, forms, and immunizations.

Our program focuses primarily on providing a rewarding learning opportunity for the volunteer. While many hospitals use volunteers to perform tasks such as paperwork, answering phones, or picking up linen and lunch trays, UHS clinic volunteers have direct patient contact. UHS patients and staff appreciate and support the program.

Interested in applying for the UHS Clinic Volunteer Program?

UHS accepts applications for the program each spring semester for volunteers to start the following fall semester. Qualified applicants are interviewed and selected before registration each spring.

Lower and upper division undergraduates and graduate students from any major or background are welcome to apply. A major in a health-related field is preferred but not required.

New and returning volunteers begin their mandatory training each semester before classes begin with an extensive orientation to UHS and a clinical skills workshop. Volunteers receive additional on-the-job training and increased responsibility as skill and proficiency grow.

History of the UHS Clinic Volunteer Program

At the recommendation of the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC), UHS launched the Clinic Volunteer Program in the spring of 1998. The program has grown nearly each semester. An average of 75 volunteers work throughout the General Medicine, Sports Medicine, Women's Health, and Urgent Care clinics, as well as the UHS Laboratory each semester. Most volunteers are pre-med or pre-nursing students.

UHS takes great pride in their volunteers. As a part of the university community, we value our role as mentors of tomorrow's health care professionals and consumers.

UHS Clinic Volunteer Program Contact Information

Kathy Mosteller, RN
Nursing Director, Clinic Volunteer Program Coordinator
University of Texas at Austin, University Health Services
Office: SSB 2.404A, Campus Mail A3900
Email: clinicvolprog@uhs.utexas.edu (email is the preferred method of contact)
Phone:(512) 475-8349
Fax: (512) 471-0898

The following are the short response questions that are a part of our volunteer application. Please take the time to formulate your responses in a Word document, then copy your responses into the Qualtrics application. If you start the Qualtrics survey and do not complete the application in one sitting, Qualtrics will not save your responses and you will have to start over.

If you have any questions, please contact: Katie Goodfellow

1. List up to 5 extracurricular activities and note any leadership roles. For activities/experiences having to do with healthcare or business, please also describe the duties performed. (500 characters per entry)
2. What qualities do you possess that make you a competitive applicant for the volunteer program? What do you hope to gain from this volunteer experience? (max 250 words)
3. Please describe why you chose Sports Medicine or Women’s Health as your top clinic preference, whichever applicable. How does this relate to your career goals? (max 300 words)
4. UHS Values include Diversity and Inclusiveness which involves “cultivating an inclusive environment that values and promotes the understanding of differences and enhances our ability to meet the needs of our diverse student population”. What does it mean for you to have a commitment to diversity? (max 200 words)
5. Tell us about an experience that helped define one of your values or changed how you approach the world. (max 200 words)
6. Is there anything else you would like us to know when we consider you for admission into the program? (max 50 words)