Disclaimer: The listings here are provided as a benefit and a resource to students. Brown does not endorse or promote any particular third party entity’s program. The linked opportunities will take you to the third party provider’s website where you can obtain information about the specific program. You can then determine on your own whether you are eligible and interested in applying or participating.
The majority of hospitals and clinics require HIPAA training of their volunteers. The volunteer offices of these institutions conduct the training which typically involves an orientation (usually monthly) a drug test, tuberculosis test, a review of your vaccination record, and a criminal background check. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has compiled a useful guide to HIPAA orientation. Every volunteer office manages the training a bit differently. To make the most of your experience as a volunteer, learn about the duties you would perform at different hospitals or clinics, plan your volunteer training early in your college education and participate regularly over an extended period of time. Most volunteer offices would expect 2-5 hours of your time per week. Schedules vary so you have flexibility.
As a certified volunteer at a hospital or clinic you can reach out to various clinicians to observe their work more closely. While shadowing clinicians is generally something you would do sporadically, it can enrich your perspective on different fields and different approaches to clinical practice. This can be a valuable complement to your longer-term volunteer commitments but you should plan for this to be just one component of your clinical engagement and career exploration.
Providence and Rhode Island
Providence--Butler Hospital
A psychiatric and substance abuse hospital for children, adolescents, adults, and seniors
Providence--Rhode Island Hospital
RI’s largest hospital which provides comprehensive medical care
Providence--Hasbro Children's Hospital
A hospital that provides a wide range of pediatric medical services
Providence--Miriam Hospital Volunteer Services
A community general hospital with a full range of diagnostic and treatment services
Providence--Roger Williams Medical Center
A medical and surgical hospital located in Providence, RI
Providence--Veterans Administration Hospital
A hospital for comprehensive outpatient and inpatient health care to area veterans
Providence--Brown University Emergency Medical Services
The Brown community EMT unit for basic and advanced life support care and transfer
Providence--Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island
RI’s largest and most comprehensive provider of hospice and palliative care
Providence & Newport--Rhode Island Free Clinic
A facility dedicated to serving uninsured and under-insured RI residents
Providence--Rhode Island Hospital Foreign Language Translating in a Medical Setting. Contact the volunteer office at Rhode Island Hospital for more information.
Providence--Women & Infants Hospital
A leading speciality hospital for women and newborns
Warwick--Kent Hospital
A medical and surgical hospital located in Warwick, RI
Woonsocket--Landmark Medical Center
A medical and surgical hospital located in Woonsocket, RI
Care New England Volunteer Program
Boston Area and Massachusetts
Needham--Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Newton--Newton Wellesley Hospital
Boston--Brigham and Women's Hospital, Medical Career Exploration Program
Boston--South Cove Community Health Center
Malden--Sharewood Free Health Care Clinic
Martha's Vineyard--Camp Jabberwocky
Summer camp for children and adults with disabilities
Connecticut
Hartford--Hartford Hospital, Summer Student Pre-Med and Reserach Programs
Ashford--The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
A camp for seriously ill children and their families
New York City Area and New Jersey
New York City--Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Health Career Opportunity Program
New York City--Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
New York City--Project Health Care at Bellevue Hospital
Westchester County, NY--Four Winds Hospitals
Hempstead, NY--Summer Premedical Program for College Students, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine
Piscataway, NJ--Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Summer Clinical Internship Program
Other Locations
Multiple Locations (Boston, NYC, California)--Health Career Connection Internships
Multiple Locations--Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Los Angeles County, CA--Venice Family Clinic
Philadelphia, PA--College Volunteer Program at The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Cincinnati, OH--University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Summer Programs
Houston, TX--Michael E. DeBakey Summer Surgery Program, Baylor College of Medicine
Nashville, TN--Vanderbilt Summer Science Academy - Clinical Research Internship Program
NIH National Library of Medicine MedlinePlus Clinician and Hospital Directories
