URI Pre-Health Career Pathways is excited to announce a new partnership with Brown University Health, including Rhode Island Hospital, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Miriam Hospital and Newport Hospital, launching Fall 2026.
Through this partnership, a maximum of 25 URI students that are pursuing careers in healthcare will be selected to begin volunteering in hospital settings, without having to apply directly through Brown University Health’s standard volunteer waitlist.
This opportunity is designed specifically for students pursuing future careers in healthcare and provides early, meaningful exposure to clinical environments and building future competitive applications to health professional programs.
Why Hospital Volunteering Is Valuable for Pre‑Health Students
Hospital volunteering remains one of the most impactful experiences for students preparing for health professional careers. This partnership helps reduce many of the common barriers students face.
Benefits include:
- Bypassing long volunteer waitlists and multi‑step application barriers
- Direct exposure to hospital environments and patient interactions
- Networking with healthcare professionals, including physicians, physician assistants and allied health providers
- Potential mentoring relationships, which may lead to shadowing opportunities across multiple specialties
- Opportunities to build long‑term relationships that may result in a strong letter of recommendation when appropriate
- Potential movement into other hospital roles with direct patient interaction over time*
*While mentoring, shadowing, letters of recommendation, or role changes are not guaranteed, consistent and professional engagement significantly increases the likelihood of these experiences.
Program Overview: Volunteering with Brown University Health
After meeting with Brown University Health Volunteer Services, they have agreed to create a dedicated volunteer pathway for URI students, even though they typically maintain a lengthy waitlist.
Available roles include (examples):
- Patient and visitor support
- Ambassador / Greeter roles
- Comfort item rounds
- Playroom support (Hasbro)
- Cancer Institute support
- And more: over 60 hospital volunteer roles exist across departments
Volunteer locations include:
Most volunteer shifts are:
- Monday–Friday
- Mornings and afternoons
- Limited evening/weekend availability
All accepted students will begin with approximately 30 hours as an Ambassador (Greeter).
This role allows students to:
- Receive training and a hospital tour
- Serve as a friendly and professional first point of contact for patients and visitors
- Learn hospital navigation and communication
- Demonstrate reliability and consistency
After completing the initial 30 hours, Brown University Health will work with students to identify another role, based on performance, interest, and hospital needs.
Because onboarding takes significant time and resources, this program emphasizes long‑term commitment.
Students must be able to commit to:
- A minimum of 100 total volunteer hours
- At least one full year of service
- Ideally, continued volunteering throughout their time at URI
- Consistent weekly availability (approximately 3 hours/week)
- The same shift, day, and time each week
- Reliable transportation to hospital location(s)
Students are expected to be reliable and professional. After three unexcused absences, students may be removed from the volunteer roster.
This opportunity is open to:
- First‑ and second‑year URI students only
- The goal is to allow for the longest possible volunteer commitment
- Students genuinely interested in working in a hospital setting
- Students available primarily Monday–Friday
- Students willing to follow:
- Hospital policies and procedures
- URI Code of Conduct
- Volunteer dress code (vest, badge, mask when applicable)
Please note:
- This is a volunteer position
- No academic credit can be awarded
Accepted students will complete:
- Background check (run by Brown University Health)
- Health clearance and vaccination verification
- Required training modules
- Policy acknowledgements
Motivated students can typically complete onboarding within 2–3 weeks.
Application Process:
- Submit the Google Form application by August 1
- Applications will be reviewed, and a maximum of 25 students will be selected
- Accepted students’ names will be shared with Brown University Health
- Brown University Health will:
- Contact students directly
- Coordinate orientation
- Guide required onboarding paperwork
Important Notes
- Placement in a preferred role is not guaranteed and will depend on hospital needs
- Not all applicants will be accepted
- Students are committing to this opportunity based on hospital demand and expectations
Students with questions about this opportunity may contact: