The volunteers at St. David’s Medical Center have a rich history of providing exceptional services and assistance to our patients, hospital and community. Since 1955, our volunteers have been dedicated to supporting the hospital. Our objective is to provide tailored and exceptional programs addressing the need of our patients and visitors. We offer a wide range of dynamic volunteer opportunities, including both traditional and non-traditional roles, allowing individuals to contribute their time and talents. The Volunteer Services department collaborates with you to identify a volunteer position aligning with your personal background and interests.
St. David’s Medical Center
Volunteer Services
919 E 32nd Street
Austin, TX
78705
Email us
Phone: (512)
544-4491
Volunteer requirements
Due to the nature of our work, all St. David’s Medical Center volunteers must fulfill several requirements. Please review the General and Immunization requirements outlined below before submitting your application.
General requirements:
- Minimum of 15 years of age
- Commit to three to four hours of service each week for a 6-month minimum commitment (varies per program)
- Ability to function independently with minimal supervision
- Complete an online Volunteer Application - Once your application has been reviewed, Volunteer Services will contact you for an interview
- Consent to criminal background check
- Urine drug screen (completed only at St. David’s Occupational Health Services)
- Complete orientation and training - details will be shared with accepted applicants
Immunization requirements:
Immunizations must be on an official immunization record
and/or documented by a licensed healthcare professional. If no record(s) exist, antibody titer testing, a blood draw
used to measure immunity, can be conducted at OHS. This can be done through self-payment or with approval from the
Volunteer Services Manager, at the expense of the facility. DO NOT seek services at OHS without an authorization
form from our offices.
- 2 doses of MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
- 2 doses of VAR (Chicken Pox) or history of disease
- Tdap within the last 10 years
- TB (Tuberculosis) - All volunteers must also have a TB test that is current within the last 90 days.
- Flu shot
Volunteer programs
These volunteer roles are a valuable way to contribute to the hospital's mission of providing exceptional care to patients. We ask that volunteers commit to a minimum of six months (unless specified otherwise) to ensure consistency and continuity in the support they provide.
Administrative/clerical: Provide support to hospital staff with basic administrative tasks such as data entry, filing and answering phones.
Emergency department concierge: Welcome and assist patients and visitors in the emergency department with directions, information and comfort items. You will conduct hourly comfort rounds to ensure patients and their families feel supported and cared for during their time in the emergency department.
Information lobby / Waiting areas: Greet and guide patients, families and visitors in the hospital lobby and waiting areas by providing essential information, wayfinding, assisting with wheelchair transports and ensuring a welcoming and comfortable environment.
Newborn nursery: Assist nursery staff with tasks related to the care and comfort of newborn babies, including bottle preparation, feeding, holding and diaper changing. Must be 25 years old and willing to commit to a minimum of one year of service, including one month of training. *Please note there is currently a waitlist for this position.
NICU cuddler: Provide compassionate nurture to NICU babies through gentle cuddling and comforting techniques. Must be 25 years old and commit to a minimum of one year of service, including one month of training. *Please note there is currently a waitlist for this position.
Sunshine friends: Visit and engage with patients to provide companionship, comfort and support during their hospital stay.
Unit aide: Assist hospital units with various tasks such as stocking supplies, lab runs, patient rounding, discharging and providing assistance to hospital staff as needed.
The St. David’s Medical Center College Volunteer Program provides students with a unique opportunity to gain firsthand experience in a healthcare setting while gaining personal fulfillment through serving others. Our student volunteers play an integral role in various hospital departments, leaving a positive impact on our patients, visitors and staff.
New student volunteers dedicate their first semester to work in our Atrium Gift Shop or Information Desk (no exceptions). This initial placement allows students to become acclimated to the hospital environment while ensuring our high-need service areas are adequately staffed. Following this initial semester, volunteers have the option to select from more than 25 clinical and non-clinical departments for their ongoing service. While weekend and evening shifts are available, they are limited. Students are expected to serve one three/four-hour shift per week (equivalent to 40 hours per semester) and commit to a minimum of two semesters. It is important to note that submission of an application does not guarantee placement.
Applications Cycle (Application submitted outside of these timeframes will not be considered.)
- Spring Semester: The application window opens on October 1st and closes on November 15th at 11:59 pm.
- Summer Semester: The application window opens on March 1st and closes on April 15th at 11:59 pm.
- Fall Semester: The application window opens on June 1st and closes on July 15th at 11:59 pm.
*If you have graduated or are not currently enrolled in school, we encourage you to submit an application via our Community Volunteer Program.
Our Teen Summer Volunteer Program offers a unique opportunity for high school students between 15 and 18 years old to gain experience in a healthcare setting while engaging in fulfilling volunteer service. The program spans seven to eight weeks, typically from the first week of June through the end of July and requires participants to commit to two four-hour volunteer shifts per week. We prioritize high-need service areas, including the Atrium Gift Shop, Discharge Lounge, Information Desks and more, where teens can make a valuable impact on our patients, staff and visitors.
To participate, teens must be 15 years old by June 1st, available for the entire length of the program, and may request up to two service day absences in advance. They will have the option to choose their preferred assignments, sign up for a fixed schedule, and expect to perform tasks such as wayfinding, wheelchair discharges, restocking nurses' stations and providing companionship to patients.
Each year, applications open on March 1st and the deadline to submit an application is April 15th by 11:59pm.
*Please note that we accept year-round applications for homeschooled teens only. If you are interested, we strongly encourage you to submit an application through our Community Volunteer Program.
Are you a driven student or individual with a passion for pursuing a career in physical therapy or occupational therapy? Are you seeking to earn inpatient hours for PT/OT school? Our PT/OT Rehabilitation Volunteer Program offers a valuable opportunity for students and individuals in the midst of applying to graduate school. Please note that our program is currently limited to a maximum of 10 students per semester, each of whom must complete a minimum and a maximum of 80 hours per semester. We kindly request that only those who are applying to PT/OT graduate school within the next six months submit an application at this time. Please refrain from applying if you are not at this stage.
Applications Cycle (Application submitted outside of these timeframes will not be considered.)
- Spring Semester: The application window opens on October 1st and closes on November 15th at 11:59pm.
- Summer Semester: The application window opens on March 1st and closes on April 15th at 11:59pm.
- Fall Semester: The application window opens on June 1st and closes on July 15th at 11:59 pm.
Pet therapy: As part of our commitment to enhancing the well-being of our patients, we believe in the positive impact of pet therapy. We are seeking specially trained therapy dogs from Divine Canines who can uplift and comfort our patients during their time of need.
Ronald McDonald House Charities: RMHC volunteers support the Family Room, providing respite for families with hospitalized children.
Hand to Hold: (Invitation Only) Staff offer emotional support to families with children in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Music series: We are seeking artistic and talented individuals to bring comfort, joy and uplift our patients and their families through music. If you have a passion for performance and would like to share your talent, we encourage you to submit an application for consideration.
TCAI researcher: (Invitation Only) As a researcher, you will have the unique opportunity to collaborate with TCAI on cutting-edge research projects and make significant contributions to academic and scientific advancements. Individuals must be invited to participate as researchers.
Internships/shadowing: Volunteer Services is not responsible for processing or arranging internships or shadowing opportunities.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must have been accepted or currently enrolled in a bachelor's level healthcare program or higher in the state of Texas, such as, but not limited to, medicine, nursing, pharmacy or physical therapy.
- Must attend school as a full-time student or full-time equivalent, as determined by your educational institution, for the scholarship period.
- Must provide proof of US Citizenship or permanent resident status.
- Must complete and pass a background investigation.
- Must be able to participate in a phone interview with the Scholarship Committee on a designated date in April.
- Must not be a St. David’s Healthcare employee eligible for tuition reimbursement.
For more information, please visit the Ambassadors for Community Health website and/or refer to the FAQs page.