Health professions programs look for applicants who demonstrate a sustained commitment to serving and helping others, both in healthcare settings and in your community.
Volunteering in hospitals, clinics, and other health care settings gives you a chance to work with patients and health care teams. Volunteering outside of health care settings gives you a chance to serve your community in other ways that are meaningful to you. For example, you might be interested in music, enjoy working with older people, or have an interest in policy issues. Get involved in what interests you — in clinical settings and otherwise — so your experiences tell a cohesive story about who you are!
To discuss specific service requirements for a health profession, meet with a Pre-Health Advisor at CPHA.
Clinical Volunteering in Madison
Spending time in clinical settings gives you a chance to gain patient care experience and explore your interests in health care.
Specialty Care
- Adapted Fitness
- Agrace Hospice Care
- Ski Patrol – start by registering at a nearby hill with a Ski Patrol!
- Ronald McDonald House – Support for families and seriously ill children undergoing treatment
- The Red Cross
- Wilderness Medicine Courses
- NOLS Wilderness Medicine courses
- REI has a two-day course for $299
- US Fish and Wildlife Service has various courses between $300-$3000
Non-Clinical Volunteering in Madison
Everything you do outside of the classroom — your interests, your hobbies, your campus involvement, your jobs, and volunteering — is valuable for your health professions application. Spend time volunteering in your local community in ways that are meaningful to you.
Explore volunteer service hubs (right) or explore by your interests below. This list of examples is not exhaustive, but is meant to spark your thinking about how to focus your search to find opportunities that really excite you!