Volunteer Opportunities
We strive to provide a fulfilling volunteering experience at Upstate by assigning tasks that align with your interests and meet the hospital's needs. However, we cannot guarantee placement in your preferred department or assignment. Please note that most assignments involve physical activities like bending, standing, and walking.
Nappi Wellness Welcome Team
New Role!
Some aspects of this role include
- Greeting and making everyone feel welcome and expected
- Helping people find their destination by escorting them or providing wheelchair transportation
- Guiding patients in use of the registration kiosks
Currently Accepting Adult Applicants- click here for more information and link to apply
To learn more about the Nappi Wellness Institute, please visit - http://gnexc.gz-jlwl.com/nappi-wellness-institute/about.php
Cancer Center
Days: Monday-Friday
Hours: Flexible
Location: Downtown Cancer Center
Qualifications: Basic clerical & customer service skills.
- Volunteers round in all patient service & waiting areas; offering refreshments, comfort items, general helpful info to patients/caregivers.
- Volunteers help patients complete American Cancer Society forms, navigate Upstate buildings and orient patients & families to the Cancer Center resources.
- Ability to push “comfort cart” preferred.
Child Life
Days: Monday-Friday
Hours: Flexible
Location: Golisano Children's Hospital, Downtown Cancer Center
Qualifications: Basic clerical & customer service skills
- Caring, friendly volunteers work hand-in-hand with Child-Life specialists and pediatric patients in Golisano Children’s Hospital, pediatric ED & Hem/Onc, Pulmonary, and Radiation units. Upon the direction of a staff member, they visit with patients and their families, are willing to survey recreational needs and deliver Activity Cart items, and sometimes help patients to pass the time.
- They ensure common areas and items within those areas are sanitized in between use.
Clerical
Days: Monday-Friday
Hours: Flexible
Location: University Hospital, Community Hospital
Qualifications: Basic clerical skills helpful
- Volunteers assist staff with a wide range of clerical duties: prepare envelopes, filing, data input, prepare mailings, answer telephones, etc. Some of those areas include: Administration, Health Education, Women’s Health Network, Physicians Office Building offices, Wellspring, etc.
East Lobby
Days: Monday-Friday
Hours: Flexible
Location: Community Hospital
Qualifications: Good customer service skills
Physical Requirements: Ability to transport or escort patients and visitors in wheelchairs throughout the hospital and Physician’s Office Buildings.
- Volunteers greet, escort, direct and transport individuals to a variety of outpatient services: Radiology, Surgery Center, physician visits, etc. They also deliver paperwork, charts, specimens and flowers.
Emergency Department
Days: Monday-Friday
Hours: Flexible
Location: University Hospital
Qualifications: Good customer service skills
Physical Requirements: Walk throughout the department, transport patients in wheelchairs.
- Volunteers greet and escort patients, prepare stretchers & beds, run errands, take specimens to lab, stock supplies and transport patients.
- Caring, friendly volunteers also round on patients offering non-clinical assistance. Visitation is offered to patients who are particularly scared or lonely.
Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
Days: Monday-Friday
Hours: Flexible
Location: Community Hospital
Qualifications: Must be at least 16 years old. Basic clerical & customer service skills
Recommendations: Hepatitis B Immunization
- The Pre & Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) provides care to patients after surgery while recovering from anesthesia until they are moved to either their hospital room or are discharged home. Volunteers help transport patients on stretchers. They also help prepare stretchers, run errands and stock supplies for the Operating Room and PACU.
Pet Therapy
Days: 7 days a week, mainly Monday-Friday
Hours: Flexible
Location: University Hospital, Community Hospital, Downtown Cancer Center, Community Cancer Center and more
Qualifications:
Good customer service skills. Dog must be evaluated and certified by one of the two local organizations we partner with.
- Animal Assisted Therapy: Volunteers bring their dog(s) to units or to patient’s rooms to enjoy the company and health benefits of being around pets.
- Animal Support for Upstate Staff: Volunteer teams (handler & dog) are available to staff in common areas for tail wagging and puppy love to help Upstate employees de-stress.
Click here for more information on Upstate’s Pet Therapy programs.
Surgery Center Desk
Days: Monday-Friday
Hours: Flexible
Location: Community Hospital
Qualifications: Basic clerical & customer service skills
- Volunteers greet patients and their families, oversee the waiting room, communicate necessary non-medical information and assist with clerical tasks.
Volunteer Express
Days: Monday-Friday
Hours: Flexible
Location: University Hospital
Qualifications: Good customer service skills
Physical Requirements: Ability to transport &/or escort patients and visitors throughout the hospital.
- Volunteers greet, escort, direct and transport individuals to a variety of services: Registration, Surgery Center, physician visits, etc. They also deliver paperwork, charts, specimens, and flowers.
Wellspring & Women's Imaging
Days: Monday-Friday
Hours: Flexible
Location: Community Hospital POB, 550 Harrison
Qualifications: Basic clerical & customer service skills helpful
- Volunteers greet patients and guide them through the pre-testing process. They help create the exceptionally warm environment and assist staff with a variety of clerical tasks.