Updated October 2026
TL;DR
Thinking about a career in medicine? Volunteering at a hospital can give you a sense of what healthcare work is like before you decide whether it’s the right path for you. This guide covers 13 programs for high school students, with roles ranging from helping patients get around UCLA to spending time with children at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Most opportunities are available during the summer, but some hospitals also accept volunteers during the school year. Age requirements vary, too. You may be eligible at 13, while other hospitals only accept volunteers who are at least 16. Before applying, check the requirements. Most programs haven’t announced summer 2027 dates yet, so keep an eye on hospital websites if you want to apply. And if you’d like to go beyond volunteering and explore a medical topic through research, you can also apply to the Horizon Academic Research Program.
If you’re a high school student planning to explore medicine as a career, a medical volunteer program can help you see what hospital work looks like day to day. You might transport patients between departments, help with front desk tasks, organize supplies, or bring water and blankets to patients who need them. Some programs also include short training on patient confidentiality and safety, and a few add workshops or a group project. This guide covers 13 programs, with details on hours, deadlines, and eligibility for each. If summer doesn’t fit your schedule, take a look at our list of fall volunteer programs for high school students.
What do medical volunteers actually do?
Most hospital volunteer roles for high schoolers are non-clinical. That means you support patients, families, and staff without giving medical care. At UCLA Health’s Volunteen Summer Program, for example, you might help with patient discharges and transfers, or greet visitors and provide wheelchair escorts. At Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, you might escort patients to appointments or hand out age-appropriate gifts at the entrance.
Some roles get you closer to patients than others. UW Medical Center says its patient escort role has the highest level of patient contact of any volunteer position there. Others are mostly clerical. Texas Health Resources says most of its junior volunteer opportunities are clerical in nature. One thing almost no program includes is shadowing. Houston Methodist, Keck Medicine of USC, and CHLA all say shadowing isn’t part of their volunteer programs.
How do you choose the right medical volunteer program?
Start with location, since almost every program here is in person and draws local students. Then check the age cutoff. Children’s Hospital Colorado takes teens from age 13. UCLA Health requires you to be 16 by June 1.
Next, look at the time commitment. A two-week session at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center is very different from the 112 hours over seven weeks at CHLA. If you want more than shifts, look for programs with built-in learning. Children’s National, for instance, adds guest speakers, workshops, and a group project.
| If you want | Look at |
| Something you can do through your school, almost anywhere in the U.S. | American Red Cross Clubs |
| A short, structured two-week session | UVA Health Prince William Summer Teen Program, KU Health System VolunTeen |
| Workshops and speakers alongside your shifts | Children’s National Summer High School Volunteer Program |
| A big summer commitment at a children’s hospital | CHLA High School Summer Volunteer Program |
| An option if you’re 13, 14, or a rising freshman | Children’s Hospital Colorado Junior Volunteer Program, KU Health System VolunTeen |
| Volunteering during the school year | Cedars-Sinai Teen Volunteer Program, Houston Methodist Caring Teen Volunteer Program |
Medical Volunteer Programs for High School Students
1. American Red Cross Clubs
Location: High schools and local Red Cross chapters across the U.S.
Cost: No program fee listed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: Year-round, during the school year
Application Deadline: Varies by region (for example, the Arkansas region accepts applications to start a club from August 1 to September 30 and January 1 to 31)
Eligibility: Middle school, high school, and college students; age ranges vary by region (13 to 17 in New Jersey, 13 to 18 in Utah)
Red Cross Clubs are officially recognized, student-led groups on school campuses that work with their local Red Cross chapter. Club projects follow the Red Cross’s five lines of service, which include Biomedical Services (that’s the blood side of things) and Training Services. In the Wisconsin region, for example, each club hosts or helps at a blood drive, runs a fundraiser, and does a disaster preparedness activity.
Who is it right for? Students anywhere who want a year-round, leadership-heavy way to serve that runs through their own school.
2. UCLA Health Volunteen Summer Program
Location: UCLA Health Westwood facilities, Los Angeles, CA (in person)
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: TBA (previous cohort: summer 2026, with 50 hours due by August 31)
Application Deadline: TBA; Summer 2027 information will be posted starting January 1, 2027
Eligibility: At least 16 by June 1; proof of varicella, MMR, and TB; a government-issued photo ID
As a Volunteen, you complete at least 50 hours in one of three areas. Patient Transport volunteers help with discharges and transfers, with shifts available seven days a week. Wayfinders greet visitors at hospital entrances and provide wheelchair and escort help, and because the role is on your feet, each 2-hour shift counts as 4 hours. Floaters deliver patient mail and newspapers. To apply, you first register for a mandatory Zoom information session (spots are first come, first served), and then you attend one in-person orientation with no make-up dates.
Who is it right for? Los Angeles-area students who are 16 and want flexible, patient-facing summer hours.
3. Children’s National Summer High School Volunteer Program
Location: Children’s National Hospital, Michigan Avenue NW, Washington, DC
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: TBA; a six-week session (previous cohort: June 23 to July 31, 2026)
Application Deadline: TBA; check back in February 2027 (previous cohort: application open March 9 to 13, 2026)
Eligibility: At least 15 by the start of the program; a current high school student returning to high school in the fall (not a current 8th grader or senior)
You volunteer twice a week, either Tuesday/Wednesday or Wednesday/Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., for at least 50 service hours. Your duties include greeting patients and visitors, helping with wayfinding, and rounding with the Hospitality Cart. On top of that, you attend guest speaker sessions and workshops led by Children’s National physicians and other professionals. You also work with other volunteers on a group project that benefits the hospital, and you join a workshop on life after high school.
Who is it right for? DC-area 9th to 11th graders who want volunteering with built-in workshops and a team project.
4. University of Miami Health System (UHealth) High School Student Volunteer Program
Location: UHealth sites in South Florida, including UHealth Tower, Fort Lauderdale, Kendall, Plantation, and SoLé Mia
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: TBA (previous cohort: June 16 to August 7, 2026)
Application Deadline: TBA (previous cohort: applications opened February 1, 2026, were due April 1, and closed early because of high demand)
Eligibility: At least 16 years old during the application window
You commit to at least five weeks, at 4 to 5 hours a day and 10 to 20 hours a week. Tasks include helping patients on and off elevators, guiding them to the right departments, and bringing water, snacks, and blankets to people who need them. You’ll also restock supplies and give administrative support to staff. Before you start, you’ll interview, meet occupational health requirements, and pass a background check and drug screening. If you’re more interested in labs, UHealth also runs a separate High School Student Research Trainee role.
Who is it right for? South Florida students who are 16 and want a substantial, patient-facing summer schedule.
5. UVA Health Prince William Summer Teen Patient Engagement Program
Location: UVA Health Prince William Medical Center, Manassas, VA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: Four two-week summer sessions; 2027 dates TBA
Application Deadline: Not posted on the current program page
Eligibility: Have finished, or will finish, your sophomore year by summer; a “B” average or above
This program introduces you to hospital culture in a single two-week session. Service areas may include the Emergency Department, surgical services, physical therapy, registration, and the gift shop. The process has a few steps: a Parent/Teen Introduction Meeting, a group interview, and an orientation on the first day that covers confidentiality, infection prevention, and fire safety. You need to finish all two weeks to get a certificate of completion.
Who is it right for? Northern Virginia rising juniors and seniors who want a short, well-organized first look at a hospital.
6. UW Medicine Volunteer Programs (UW Medical Center and Harborview)
Location: UW Medical Center Montlake campus and Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA
Cost: None; UW Medicine provides health screenings, flu shots, and TB tests free to volunteers
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: UWMC Summer Teen Program runs in summer only (2027 dates TBA); Harborview asks for six months at four or more hours a week
Application Deadline: UWMC Summer Teen Program: check back in early spring (March) 2027; Harborview: not posted
Eligibility: Community high school students (UWMC Summer Teen Program); all volunteers must pass a Washington State background check
At UW Medical Center, new volunteers start with a one-month, 16-hour term as a patient escort. That role includes wheelchair transport, specimen deliveries, patient discharges, and delivering flowers and mail, and you’re trained in safe wheelchair handling and patient confidentiality. At Harborview, placements include inpatient and outpatient services, the emergency department, the information desk, and the discharge lounge. Harborview also logs your hours and can send a letter verifying them.
Who is it right for? Seattle-area students who want a lot of patient contact, either for one summer or over a longer stretch.
7. Texas Health Resources Junior Volunteer Program
Location: Texas Health hospitals in North Texas, including Allen, Arlington, Dallas, Denton, Fort Worth, Plano, and Rockwall
Cost: No program fee listed; some hospitals require a TB test from your own doctor, and at least two say it’s at your expense
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: Summer; varies by hospital
Application Deadline: Varies by hospital
Eligibility: Ages 16 to 18, turning 16 by May 1 of the program year; a valid Social Security number; two letters of reference
Each Texas Health hospital runs its own version, so the details change depending on where you apply. You’ll commit to the whole summer and 32 to 128 hours. At the low end, Texas Health HEB asks for two 4-hour shifts a week for four weeks. At the high end, the High School Student Service Learning program at Texas Health Dallas asks for 128 hours over 10 weeks. Most roles are clerical, in patient care areas, and business offices. Accepted students typically go through a background check, a drug screening, and an immunization review.
Who is it right for? North Texas students who are 16 and want to pick a hospital and schedule that fit their summer.
8. Children’s Hospital Colorado Junior Volunteer Program
Location: Children’s Hospital Colorado locations along the Front Range, including the Anschutz Medical Campus and Colorado Springs
Cost: None; two $2,500 Junior Volunteer Recognition Scholarships are awarded each year
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: Full-year and summer opportunities; volunteers typically commit to three hours a week
Application Deadline: Rolling; applications are processed in the order received
Eligibility: Teens ages 13 to 18
Junior volunteers work in hospital departments and help staff fundraising events. You’re assigned based on the hospital’s needs and your interests, and that can mean organizing family events, doing crafts, or leading creative play with kids. Teens on the Junior Volunteer Advisory Committee help run Cake-A-Palooza, a monthly event for patients and families, and plan the Craft Fair Fantastica.
Who is it right for? Colorado teens, including younger high schoolers, who want a steady weekly role at a pediatric hospital.
9. The University of Kansas Health System VolunTeen Program
Location: The University of Kansas Health System, Kansas City area
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: TBA (previous cohort: four two-week sessions between June 1 and July 30, 2026 for rising sophomores to seniors; Friday half-days from June 5 to July 31, 2026 for rising freshmen)
Application Deadline: TBA (previous cohort: March 6, 2026)
Eligibility: Rising freshmen through rising seniors
VolunTeen has two tracks. Rising freshmen spend Friday mornings exploring the behind-the-scenes careers that keep a hospital running. Rising sophomores to seniors volunteer Monday through Thursday for a full two-week session, in both clinical and nonclinical areas. Every participant has to attend an in-person orientation, with no exceptions. In the program’s video, past volunteers describe watching a radiofrequency ablation and holding a human brain (“squishy and rubbery,” according to one of them).
Who is it right for? Kansas City-area students, including incoming freshmen, who want a short but varied look at an academic medical center.
10. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles High School Summer Volunteer Program
Location: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: TBA (previous cohort: June 22 to August 6, 2026)
Application Deadline: TBA (previous cohort: application open January 26 to February 2, 2026)
Eligibility: Completed freshman year; 15 to 17 years old by the cutoff date (June 1,n 2026)
This is one of the bigger commitments on the list. You serve 16 hours a week in four blocks, usually Monday through Thursday, for 112 hours over seven weeks, and you can’t miss more than one week. You’ll escort patients to appointments, greet patients and give them age-appropriate gifts, and help with administrative work, though CHLA notes that contact with inpatients is very limited.
Who is it right for? Los Angeles students who love working with kids and can give most of their summer to it.
11. Cedars-Sinai Teen Volunteer Program
Location: Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: Session-based throughout the year; the Fall 2026 session is full, and the next session is Winter/Spring 2027 (dates TBA)
Application Deadline: The Winter/Spring 2027 application opens November 23, 2026
Eligibility: Teens; the age requirement isn’t listed on the current application page
Cedars-Sinai runs its Teen Volunteer Program in sessions, so it’s one of the few options here you can do during the school year. According to Cedars-Sinai, more than 200 teens volunteered in over 20 units one summer. Their duties included wayfinding, hospitality, and visiting patients to offer books or magazines.
Who is it right for? Los Angeles students who want hospital experience during the school year.
12. Keck Medicine of USC Summer Youth Volunteer Program
Location: Keck Hospital of USC or USC Norris Cancer Hospital, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: An eight-week summer program with orientation in the second week of June
Application Deadline: The listed application period is February 1 to April 30; letters of recommendation are due April 30
Eligibility: 16 to 17 years old when you apply; currently enrolled in high school
Youth volunteers work at least 8 hours a week over the eight-week program and complete at least 60 hours. Possible areas include concierge, admitting, clinics, and departments like neurology, cardiology, oncology, and physical therapy. Along with the online application, you’ll submit a self-portrait photo, a questionnaire, proof of COVID-19 vaccination, and one letter of recommendation.
Who is it right for? Los Angeles students who are 16 or 17 and want a summer placement at an academic medical center, including a cancer hospital.
13. Houston Methodist Caring Teen Volunteer Program
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: Summer 2027 TBA (the fall 2026 session ran September 21 to November 22)
Application Deadline: TBA (the fall 2026 application is closed)
Eligibility: Teens ages 15 to 18 who are currently in high school
Caring Teens work one 4-hour shift a week. In the fall 2026 session, that added up to 36 hours, with at least 28 required, so you could miss two shifts without penalty. Assignments are generally in clinical department support, administrative services, and customer support, and weekend spots are limited. If you’re selected, you’ll complete a health screen with a TB skin test and a drug test. Note that you have to go back 2 to 3 days later so they can read the TB test. You’ll also complete a background check and a virtual orientation.
Who is it right for? Houston-area teens who want a manageable weekly shift in the Texas Medical Center, in summer or fall.
5 Tips for Landing a Spot in a Hospital Volunteer Program
1. Get your health paperwork ready early.
Hospitals need proof that you’re safe to be around patients. Most programs here ask for immunization records and a TB test, and some add a drug screening or background check. Some TB tests also mean a second visit a few days later to read the result. Gather your records in the winter so paperwork doesn’t slow you down.
2. Apply the moment the window opens.
Some windows are tiny. CHLA’s 2026 application was open for one week, and UHealth closed its application before the deadline because so many students applied. Put the opening dates in your calendar as soon as they’re posted, and have your answers drafted ahead of time.
3. Line up recommenders who know you.
Several programs ask for references, and the number varies from one to two. Ask a teacher, counselor, coach, or mentor who has seen you show up reliably. Give them a heads-up before you submit, since some programs email the recommendation form straight to them with a short deadline.
4. Make your answers specific to the hospital.
When a program asks why you’re interested, connect your answer to that specific place. If it’s a children’s hospital, talk about real experience you’ve had with kids, like coaching a youth team or babysitting your cousins every summer. A small, specific story is more memorable than a general statement about loving medicine.
5. Treat orientation dates as fixed.
Many programs make orientation mandatory and don’t offer make-up sessions. Check your family’s summer plans before you apply. Programs often expect you to be available for the whole session, so missing a required date can cost you your spot.
Where else can you get healthcare experience in high school?
If you’re in Southern California, our list of summer volunteer programs for high school students in Los Angeles has more local options. For hands-on clinical or research programs in the state, see our guide to medical summer programs for high school students in California. Texans can browse our list of medical summer programs for high school students in Texas.
Missed the summer deadlines? Our roundup of fall volunteer programs for high school students covers options during the school year. If there’s no hospital program near you, try our list of online medical summer programs for high school students.
Volunteering shows you how a hospital runs. If you’d like to dig into the questions behind the care, the Horizon Academic Research Program is a selective online research program.
What you might still be wondering about hospital volunteering
Usually not. Several of these hospitals say shadowing isn’t part of their volunteer programs, and at least one says it will remove volunteers who shadow. You’ll still work around doctors, nurses, and other staff, so you’ll see a lot of how care happens.
Often, yes, but check with your school first. Several hospitals track your hours through a sign-in system and can send a letter verifying them. One children’s hospital also offers volunteer credit for scholarship applications.
No, these roles are unpaid. None of the official pages list a program fee, but you might cover small costs like a uniform shirt, parking, or a TB test from your own doctor. If you’d like an option that pays, a few programs in our list of summer hospital internships for high school students offer a stipend or hourly wage.
In many cases, yes. Some hospitals let summer volunteers move into year-round roles, and one auxiliary offers scholarships to teens who keep volunteering. If you’d like to turn what you see at the hospital into a research question of your own, the Horizon Academic Research Program offers online mentorship over typically 10 to 15 weeks and ends with a 20-page research paper.
For more options, see our guides to public health summer programs and cardiology summer programs.
Want to go beyond volunteering? Our list of free medical programs for high school students includes research internships that pay you.
Image source: American Red Cross