Volunteer at UK HealthCare
Updated April 1, 2025
Why Volunteer?
Are you interested in giving some of your time to help others during what can be a stressful period in their lives? Looking for a way to give back to the community? Curious to learn more about healthcare professions?
If you answered "yes" to any of the above, why not become a UK HealthCare volunteer? Our office offers volunteers an opportunity to use their abilities to improve the patient and family experience.
Adults 18 and older are welcome and encouraged to join us in caring for the people of the Commonwealth, and we have a yearly summer program for teens 14 to 18.
Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of two hours a week, and there is no maximum. We'll work with you to create a schedule that fits your lifestyle.
Benefits of Volunteering
When you volunteer at UK HealthCare, you'll know you're helping people who really need you. Our volunteers say that the time they give at UK HealthCare is an invaluable experience and that the appreciation of the people they help is the greatest reward.
We also like to recognize our volunteers for all the hard work they do. Our volunteers receive:
- Special celebrations throughout the year.
- Group outings, including trips to Keeneland and other historic places across Kentucky.
- Free LexTran fare with your UK volunteer ID badge.
- Discounts on meals in our cafeterias and cafe areas.
Volunteer Requirements
Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer at UK HealthCare! Volunteers help across the healthcare campus, including UK Chandler and UK Good Samaritan information desks, surgery waiting rooms, gift shops and ambulatory clinics. We also have Child Life opportunities available in the Kentucky Children's Hospital.
Our application process consists of the following:
- Completed application packet
- In-person interview
- Background check/drug screening is required for every adult over 18 (not required for teens)
- Medical screens (including TB risk assessment and blood test; proof of immunity to MMR, Varicella, and Tdap; and flu shot during flu season).
COVID Vaccine Statement: As of August 1st, 2023 UK HealthCare is not mandating the COVID vaccine for volunteers.
UK HealthCare does not accept volunteers requiring court-ordered community service hours.
Our volunteer program is unable to offer externships, internships, job shadowing, drop-in assignments, etc.
Volunteering at UK HealthCare does not lead to employment within the University of Kentucky system.
Teen Volunteers
The recruitment period for the 2025 Summer Teen Volunteer program at UK HealthCare has ended. Thank you to all central Kentucky teens who expressed interest!
If you have applied to the program, please expect to hear from us in the next 2-3 weeks after we have reviewed ALL applications. We will contact students accepted in to the program by email.
Please remember that the mandatory orientation is on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. The program runs from June 16 - July 25, 2025. Shifts are from 9 a.m. - 12 Noon and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. (Volunteers can work two shifts in a day with a lunch break in between). Teens are required to participate in five of the six weeks, a minimum of 2 shifts per week, for a total of 30 hours.
Teens must provide their own transportation.
Please note: Teen volunteers do not perform research or observe medical or patient-care procedures of any kind.
Questions?
Contact Jason Brun, UK HealthCare volunteer coordinator, at jason.brun@uky.edu or 859-323-5796.
College Volunteers
Our recruitment for the Spring 2025 has ended. To be added to our waitlist for the Fall 2025 semester, please follow the link below.
Add Me To The College Volunteer Waitlist
When recruitment begins for the Fall 2025 semester, I will contact you to let you know when it opens.
Jason Brun
Volunteer Coordinator, UK HealthCare
Jason.Brun@uky.edu
859.323.5796
Adult Volunteers
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at UK HealthCare. Our volunteers are invaluable to us and play an integral role in ensuring our patients, visitors, and staff have the absolute best experiences here at UK HealthCare.
Our application period concluded on March 5, 2025, at noon.
We will update our website when the next application period begins.
If you have any questions, please email us at uk.volunteer@uky.edu.
Our Current Wish List
The following items are things that patients will frequently request from our office. All donations should be brand new and not marked with any political/religious affiliations. Donations can be dropped off during normal business hours to Volunteer Services between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We are located at 1000 South Limestone, Lexington, KY 40536.
- Activity books (puzzles, crosswords, seek and finds, Sudoku, etc.)
- Coloring books
- Writing utensils (pens, pencils, colored pencils, crayons)
- Small, compact games (such as decks of cards)
- Brand new underwear (men and women, all sizes)
- Sweatshirts, and sweatpants/yoga pants/pajama pants (men and women, sizes S, M, L, XL, XXL; maternity wear also appreciated)
Ronald McDonald Family Room
The Ronald McDonald Family Room began welcoming guests in 2009 inside the walls of Kentucky Children’s Hospital in Lexington, KY. The Family Room provides a comforting and quiet area of respite, relaxation and reflection for families and loved ones of children who are being treated in the critical care units (NICU, PICU) of the hospital. The Ronald McDonald Family Room, open from 9 a.m to 4:30 p.m, seven days a week, is staffed with helpful specially trained and screened volunteers.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with the Ronald McDonald Family Room, please visit their website for more details. To sign up for an interview time, please click here: https://form.jotform.com/241825020663147.
We do accept donations for the Ronald McDonald Family Room. Details regarding items needed and how to to donate are below:
