UH Cleveland Medical Center

2026 Summer Youth Volunteer Program

Offering an Opportunity for Young People to Give Back to our Community

While volunteering is a fun and very rewarding experience, it is also a very serious commitment. Volunteering requires that you be willing to learn, work hard, act responsibly and be open to new experiences. The Summer Youth Volunteer Program is a 10-week program for students age 15 through graduation. Start and end dates are June 8 – August 14, 2026.

Participants volunteer for one four-hour shift per week. Students are permitted to miss only one week. At the conclusion of the program, participants receive a certificate and an hours report documenting completion of this program. You will be expected to complete 10 weeks over the summer, with a volunteering requirement of 32 – 40 hours. Please review the list on this page for available opportunities. The program fills rapidly, please apply early.

In order to volunteer in an inpatient pediatric unit volunteers must be 17 years of age and have senior status in high school. Volunteers must be 16 years of age for outpatient clinic or activity cart roles.

Summer Youth Brochure

Application Process

Step 1: Complete Online Summer Youth Application

Complete an online application and have your reference complete the reference form and then submit the reference form to email address listed on the bottom of the reference form. The reference form must be completed by someone who knows you from a professional relationship such as a guidance counselor, teacher, someone you have babysat for, an organization to which you belong, etc.

Step 2: Information Session/Interview

After your application and reference form have been received you will be contacted to attend one of our information sessions for high school students. Your parent or guardian should be present at the info session. During the info session you will be provided information pertaining to the program, participate in a brief interview, have the opportunity to answer questions and select your top two preferred volunteer placements. Some volunteer roles have age restrictions (see above for more details).

Information Session Dates – all programs will be held via Zoom, from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.:

Wednesday, April 8
Tuesday, April 14

Step 3: Health Screening/Orientation

If accepted into the program, you will need to show proof of a negative Tuberculosis (TB) blood draw or two-step PPD skin test. UH does not provide TB tests for high school volunteers. You are required to attend one general orientation session. Dates listed below, all programs will take place in the Rainbow Amphitheater (Room 123) at the UH Main Campus:

Wednesday, April 29, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Monday, May 18, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 23, 10 a.m. – noon

Volunteer Positions

15 years of age or older: Atrium Gift Shop: Greet customers and assist with selection of gifts and purchases as needed. Stock shelves and deliver flowers. Must have good communication skills. May include some cashiering.

Patient Greeter, Seidman Cancer Center: Greet patients in Seidman’s Breen Women’s Health Center (female volunteers only). Greeters offer drinks to patients and visitors, perform non-clinical tasks, and maintain awareness and control of the lobby area in SCC Breen.

Infusion Courier, Seidman Cancer Center: Volunteers take lab samples from Seidman’s Infusion Suite to one of several labs on the UH campus. Volunteers also perform non-clinical tasks in SCC Infusion between transporting lab samples.

Patient Greeter, Seidman Cancer Center Outpatient Clinic: Volunteers greet, guide, and offer assistance to patients and visitors throughout the clinic, work with nurses and staff to escort patients to scheduled appointments, and offer comfort items, snacks and companionship to patients waiting for appointments.

Wayfinder: Respond to inquiries from patients and visitors regarding hospital and provide directions or escort to various hospital locations. May provide wheelchair transport assistance.

Musician: Entertain staff, patients and their family members by playing an instrument or the piano in the hospital atrium or in the Seidman Cancer Center Infusion lobby. Must be an accomplished musician. This role can be added to another volunteer role.

Volunteer Services Department: Assist volunteers by providing information and parking/meal vouchers in our busy main office of the Volunteer Department. Answer phones, learn computer database skills. Must have good communication skills and the ability to interact with people of all ages.
16 years of age or older: Seidman Cancer Center/Acute Care Activity Cart: Visit patients in Seidman Cancer Center or Acute Care areas with an activity cart to engage in conversation and diversional activities. Will be paired with another summer youth volunteer.

Pediatric Outpatient Activities: Offer diversional activities as patients come in for their outpatient appointments. You must be 16 years old and have excellent communication skills.
17 years of age or older: Pediatric Inpatient Activity Volunteers: Interact with patients with an activity cart or planned activities. You must be 17 years of age and going into senior year.