Overview
About volunteering at UW Health
Volunteers at UW Health are valued members of our health care team offering assistance each day to our patients, families and staff at various locations throughout our organization. Volunteers are an important part of UW Health’s mission to provide remarkable care.
How do I become a volunteer?
UW Health offers volunteer opportunities at its facilities in Wisconsin and Illinois.
Please refer to the information below for the state in which you wish to volunteer.
In Wisconsin
Thank you for your interest in volunteering for UW Health. The application is currently closed. Please continue to monitor this website for updates.
We appreciate your interest in volunteering and look forward to connecting with you!
To apply for positions in Wisconsin
College students
College students who can commit to at least one full semester are eligible to apply. Students are placed on semester-based shifts. To accommodate placing volunteers for full semesters, please apply with the following timelines in mind:
Spring semester applications are anticipated to open on December 2, 2026.
Volunteers who are in the process of onboarding for spring semester volunteering must complete onboarding in full by January 8, 2027. Assignment selection will occur prior to this date during a placement interview as part of the onboarding process.
Summer applications are anticipated to open on April 12, 2027.
Fall semester applications are anticipated to open in July 2027, dates to be determined.
Application availability dates are subject to change depending on the number of applications received and number of available volunteer roles.
If a volunteer applicant does not complete onboarding by the required completion date for a semester, they will be eligible to be placed in subsequent semesters once they have completed onboarding in full.
Teens
Teens, ages 16 and up, who can commit to at least one full semester are eligible to apply. Teens are placed on semester-based shifts. To accommodate placing volunteers for full semesters, please be sure to apply with the following timelines in mind:
Spring semester applications are anticipated to open on December 2, 2026
Volunteers who are in the process of onboarding for spring semester volunteering must complete onboarding in full by January 8, 2027. Assignment selection will occur prior to this date during a placement interview as part of the onboarding process.
Summer applications are anticipated to open on April 12, 2027.
Fall semester applications are anticipated to open in July 2027, dates to be determined.
Application availability dates are subject to change depending on the number of applications received and number of available volunteer roles.
If a volunteer applicant does not complete onboarding by the required completion date for a semester, they will be eligible to be placed in subsequent semesters once they have completed onboarding in full.
Non-students
Non-students who are at least 18 years of age and who can commit to a minimum six-month consecutive volunteer commitment (weekly shifts) are eligible to apply.
At this time, the application is closed. We are not accepting applications for new volunteers. The application is anticipated to open on December 2, 2026.
Application availability dates are subject to change depending on the number of applications received and number of available volunteer roles. Please continue to monitor this web page for updates.
If you are interested in volunteering with Organ and Tissue Donation or were asked by UW Health staff to be a Peer Mentor, please email volunteer.services@uwhealth.org to request more information on how to apply.
How to apply
The application is currently closed. Periodically we will remove the application if we are not accepting applications. If the application is not available here, please continue to monitor this website for future updates.
The volunteer onboarding process can take several weeks to complete and we encourage applicants to complete the requirements as soon as possible. For most roles, onboarding includes online trainings, health assessments, placement interview, caregiver background check and a few other tasks.
Once onboarded, we require a minimum six-month consecutive volunteer commitment (non-students) or one full semester (college students and teens).
Required health clearance needed for volunteers includes:
Seasonal influenza vaccine
MMR
Varicella
Tdap
TB blood test
We are unable to accept waivers or exemptions. More details about these requirements and the clearance process will be outlined during onboarding. Please only apply if you are able to receive these vaccines or are able to show written documentation.
Opportunities
Opportunities
In Wisconsin
We have volunteer opportunities throughout UW Health, including East Madison Hospital, University Hospital, American Family Children’s Hospital and clinics throughout the Dane County area.
In Illinois
In Illinois facilities, volunteer opportunities can be found in:
Caring Canines – assisted therapy program
Greeting and escorting patients and visitors
Providing office clerical help
Emergency Department guest advocates
Patient dismissal
Wayfinding
Support cancer patients and their families
Additional opportunities
Patient and Family Advisor Program
Patient and Family Advisors are volunteers who have received care or who have had a family member who received care from UW Health in the last two years. Through participation in a council or a project, they play a meaningful role in helping to shape the patient experience.
Organ and Tissue Donation
Volunteers help share the message about the importance of registering as an organ and tissue donor to increase the number of registered donors.
Current or returning volunteers
What you need to know
Thank you for volunteering with UW Health. We appreciate the time and commitment that you provide to our patients, visitors and staff. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
Annual health assessments and trainings
Current volunteers are subject to regulatory requirements for annual health assessments and trainings each fall. These requirements must be completed and documented with the Volunteers Services department to continue volunteering with UW Health.
In Illinois
Required health clearance needed for volunteers include:
Seasonal influenza vaccine
MMR
Varicella
Tdap
TB blood test
We are unable to accept waivers or exemptions. More details of these requirements and clearance process will be outlined during onboarding. Please only apply if you are able to receive these vaccines or are able to show written documentation.
For questions, please contact (779) 696-4310.
To schedule TB or flu shot, please contact Associate Health Services at (779) 696-4112.
In Wisconsin
If you are not sure if your annual requirements are up-to-date, please contact the Volunteer Services office at (608) 263-6046 or volunteer.services@uwhealth.org.