Volunteer Program

Helping to make a difference

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Washington Hospital Center, the largest and most experienced hospital in Washington, DC.

Our philosophy is “Patient First – Our Family Serving Yours” and we would like to make you a part of “our family” because we recognize volunteers as an essential part of the level of excellence provided to our patients.  Whether you need to complete community service hours, gain exposure or want to give back to the community, Washington Hospital Center’s volunteer programs will offer you many choices in finding just the right fit for your talents and skills and our hospital needs.

Washington Cancer Institute’s Patient and Community Services is seeking volunteers for two special programs:

Breast Cancer Lay Health Advisory
The Breast Cancer Lay Health Advisors is a program where a lay health advisor is matched with a breast cancer patient.  The lay health advisor is asked to call the patient once a week to say “hello” and provide moral support.  If you are interested in becoming a lay health advisor or to learn more about the program, please contact Robin Bunch at 202-877-6681.

Ambassadors of Hope
The Ambassadors of Hope Volunteer Program provides individuals with the opportunity to work closely with cancer patients and families touched by cancer.  Volunteers will meet patients and families touched by cancer and orient them to the services available to them that are provided by Patient and Community Support Services. In addition, they will assist with some administrative duties such as stocking educational materials, compiling patient treatment binders, mailing information to new patients, etc.)

As a new volunteer you will receive training regarding the Patient and Community Services department and how to talk with the patients and families.  This is a great opportunity for individuals interested in working in the health care field or who just want to give their time to those who are have a chronic illness.  Our volunteers are mostly undergraduate and graduate students who are premedical or medical students, or studying nursing, public health, or medical social work/psychology.

If you are interested in becoming an Ambassador of Hope or to learn more about the program, please contact Tamika Afolabi at 202-877-7712.

You can use our online volunteer application service.

The Volunteer Services department provides various opportunities:

Mended Hearts, Inc.
MHI is a nonprofit educational volunteer service organization of persons who have heart disease, their families and other interested persons that operates in affiliation with the AHA. Its mission is to offer help, support and encouragement to heart disease patients and their families. The MHI performs inpatient visits, sponsors outpatient support and group meetings, distributes educational material to patients, offers support and cooperation to the health care community and helps establish cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Patient and Guest Ambassador Program
Volunteers greet and visit patients admitted to Washington Hospital Center on behalf of Patient and Guest Services to welcome them and facilitate assistance for any questions or needs.  Volunteers also escort patients and visitors to their destination throughout the hospital.

Student Program
This program is available to any student who needs to complete community service or internship/externship hours.

Through these programs many volunteers may work throughout the hospital in departments such as:

• Ambulatory Specialty Clinic
• Cardiac Catheterization Lab
• Radiology
• Human Resources
• Information Systems
• International Services
• Linen Services
• Nursing Units
• Pastoral Care
• Patient Access Services
• Sterile Processing
• Emergency Room

What we offer volunteers…

• A Meaningful Work Experience
• Complimentary Meals
• Complimentary Parking
• Annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
• Organizational-wide Training Courses

Click to review:

Volunteer Application Requirements