Dental Volunteer Opportunities
San Diego County Dental Society
Opportunities: Communications, ethics, well-being, general volunteer, recruitment & retention, and more!
Next Steps: Find out more at sdcds.org/volunteer. Those interested can also contact (619) 275-7188.
UCSD Student Run Free Dental Clinic
Locations: Downtown San Diego, Lemon Grove, Pacific Beach, Veteran’s Village
Requirements: CPR certification and training session, then turn in an application to one of the UCSD Pre-Dental Society meetings.
Next Steps: Download the application and visit ucsdpds.org/volunteer for more details.
Volunteers in Medicine (El Cajon)
Opportunities: Translator, Greeter, Fundraiser, Dental Assistant, Front Desk, Office, and more!
Requirements: Positions that are for healthcare providers will require proof of licensure.
Next Steps: Fill out an online volunteer application at vim-sandiego.org/volunteer-application
Medical Volunteer Opportunities
Alvarado Hospital (San Diego)
Opportunities: Emergency Department, Patient Care, Food and Nutrition, Radiology, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and more!
Requirements: One 4-hour shift per week for 1 year
Next Steps: Applications currently being accepted! Call (619) 229-4619 and visit alvaradohospital.com/Volunteer-Opportunities for more details.
Pathmaker Internship (Palomar Health)
Locations: Escondido (PMC), Poway (PMC–Poway), San Marcos
Opportunities: Surgery, Pharmacy, Emergency Department, ICU, Radiology, Birth Center, Behavioral Health, and more!
Requirements: One 4-hour shift per week, 240 hours to graduate
Next Steps: Visit palomarhealth.org/pathmaker-internship-program for more details.
Rady Children’s Hospital (San Diego)
Opportunities: Hospital Volunteer (activity room, surgery ambassador, speech, etc.), community auxiliary units, social advocates, and more!
Requirements: Hospital volunteers are required to commit to 1 year or 100 hours
Next Steps: Visit radyfoundation.org/volunteer for more details.
Scripps
Locations: La Jolla, San Diego, Chula Vista, Encinitas
Opportunities: Clinical departments, nursing/surgical units, patient escort, and more!
Next Steps: Visit scripps.org/volunteer for more details.
Sharp Hospital
Locations: La Mesa (Sharp Grossmont), San Diego (Sharp Memorial and Sharp Mary Birch)
Opportunities: Emergency Department, Integrative Healing Therapies, Labor & Delivery, Pharmacy, Maternal Infant Services, Physical Therapy, and more!
Requirements: 3-4 hour shifts per week, minimum of 100 hours
Next Steps: Applications currently being accepted! Visit sharp.com/volunteer/ for more details and for an online application.
UC San Diego Health
Locations: La Jolla (Jacobs Medical Center, Thornton Pavilion, and Shiley Eye Institute), Hillcrest (UCSD Medical Center)
Opportunities: Ophthalmology, Optometry, Patient Care Units, Emergency Department, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Critical Care Units, and more!
Requirements: Minimum of 100 hours of service over a six to seven month period
Next Steps: Fill out an application for orientation. Visit health.ucsd.edu/about/volunteer/ for more details.
UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic (San Diego)
Opportunities: helping patients access low-cost and/or free medications, managing the set-up, closing, and flow of the clinic, inventory and supply ordering, collecting and entering patient data, logging in and labeling patient medications, and Spanish-English translation
Next Steps: Visit https://meded.ucsd.edu/freeclinic/support.2.phpmeded.ucsd.edu/freeclinic/volunteers for more details.
Volunteers in Medicine (El Cajon)
Opportunities: Translator, Greeter, Fundraiser, Dental Assistant, Front Desk, Pharmacy Tech, Office, and more!
Requirements: Positions that are for healthcare providers will require proof of licensure.
Next Steps: Fill out an online volunteer application at vim-sandiego.org/volunteer-application
Optometry Volunteer Opportunities
Lion’s Optometric Vision Clinic
Locations: San Diego
Next Steps: Visit lionsvisionclinic.org/about/volunteer and/or email lionsvisionclinic@gmail.com for more details.
San Diego Center for the Blind
Locations: San Diego or Vista
Opportunities: Personal readers, teachers’ aides, administrative services
Requirements: Volunteers will be trained
Next Steps: Fill out a volunteer form on sdcb.org
UC San Diego Health
Locations: Shiley Eye Institute (La Jolla)
Opportunities: Ophthalmology and optometry
Requirements: Minimum of 100 hours of service over a six to seven month period
Next Steps: Fill out an application for orientation. Visit health.ucsd.edu/about/volunteer/ for more details.
Pharmacy Volunteer Opportunities
UCSD Clinic
Location: UCSD Clinic
Opportunities: Work with Pharm. D.s and other staff members by assisting with inventory of supplies, checking for outdated medications, and administrative assistance.
Requirements: Must be at least 18 years old.
Next Steps: Email Adrienne at aigomez@ucsd.edu to inquire about pre-pharmacy openings or call (858) 822-6856
Sharp Hospital
Locations: Sharp Hospital Chula Vista, Grossmont, & Coronado
Opportunities: Volunteer at the pharmacy department
Requirements: Have a minimum 3.0 GPA; Minimum commitment of one year and minimum of one 3-to-4 hour shift per week
Next Steps: Fill out an application that can be found at https://www.sharp.com/hospitals/chula-vista/student-volunteers.cfm
Pathmaker Internship
Locations: Escondido (PMC), Poway (PMC–Poway), San Marcos
Opportunities: Work closely with pharmacy technicians in the Pharmacy Department, handle the pneumatic tubing system throughout the hospital, hand deliver medications to patient rooms, and refund patients for unused medication
Requirements: One 4-hour shift per week, 240 hours to graduate
Next Steps: Visit palomarhealth.org/pathmaker-internship-program for more details
UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic (San Diego)
Opportunities: Helping patients access low-cost and/or free medications, managing the set-up, closing, and flow of the clinic, inventory and supply ordering, logging in and labeling patient medications
Next Steps: Visit https://meded.ucsd.edu/freeclinic/support.2.php for more details.
Volunteers in Medicine (El Cajon)
Opportunities: Pharmacy Technician
Requirements: Positions that are for healthcare providers will require proof of licensure.
Next Steps: Fill out an online volunteer application at vim-sandiego.org/volunteer-application
Veterinary Medical and Animal-Related Volunteer Opportunities
Feral Cats Coalition (El Cajon)
Opportunities: Animal Care, Spray/Neuter Counselor, Statistics Coordinator, Trap Depot, Veterinary Partner Contact and More!
Requirements: Must be 18 Years or older
Next Steps: Fill out an online application available at feralcat.com
Free Flight (Del Mar)
Opportunities: Sanctuary Maintenance, Marketing and fundraising events, community engagement events and more!
Requirements: Internships are typically 8-16 hours a week for a 2-6 month period.
Next Steps: Visit freeflightbirds.org/volunteer/ for more details and for an online application.
Friends of Cats (El Cajon)
Opportunities: Cat bathing/grooming, grounds maintenance, daily shelter housekeeping tasks, greeting visitors, and more!
Requirements: Cat bathing/grooming position requires experience.
Next Steps: Visit friendsofcats.org/volunteer an online application!
Humane Society (San Diego)
Opportunities: Animal Care, Neighborhood Adoption, Guest Services (After 3 months of volunteering, volunteers can step up to assist with more hands-on roles)
Requirements: Commit to 1 year of volunteering every other week
Next Steps: Visit sdhumane.org to check dates for information sessions
Lions, Tigers, and Bears (Alpine)
Opportunities: Animal care, animal behavior and education to policy,
communications, videography, graphic design, architecture, horticulture and more!
Requirements: For internship, minimum three month commitment.
Next Steps: Applications accepted online! Visit lionstigersandbears.org/interns.
Second Chance Dog Rescue (San Diego)
Opportunities: Transportation, marketing and social media, technological support, and more!
Next Steps: Fill out an application online at secondchancedogrescue.org/volunteer.
*This is not a comprehensive list of all clinical volunteer opportunities, nor does the SDSU Health Professions Advising Office endorse any particular program*
