On-Site Volunteers
Volunteers are often called the heart of MD Anderson because they play a key role in our mission to make cancer history. When joining MD Anderson’s volunteer workforce, you’ll become part of a diverse group of volunteers who enhance the patient experience.
Our volunteers are:
- a diverse workforce of trained volunteers who enhance the patient experience by providing comfort, hope, support, and referral to institutional resources at the Texas Medical Center Campus and at the Houston-area locations (League City, West Houston, The Woodlands, Sugar Land)
- compassionate, motivated, and committed
- great communicators with a desire to help patients and caregivers
- adults, college students and teens
Time commitment
- 2 to 4-hour flexible volunteer shifts are available from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Friday
- learn more at our virtual Volunteer Orientation
- evening and weekend programs remain closed at this time
The volunteer placement process consists of several steps:
- Training: Complete Virtual Orientation and Virtual Placement Interview
- Commitment: Consistent attendance, flexible online shifts sign up
- Criminal background check clearance
- Uniform: Volunteer blue jacket and MD Anderson-issued mask (provided to you each shift)
College Volunteer Program-Apply Now!
Volunteers 18 years and older enrolled in college courses may apply to our volunteer program. College volunteers provide customer service and support to patients and visitors in a hospital setting while gaining exposure to various healthcare careers. We do not offer short-term volunteer opportunities, shadowing of medical professionals or internships. Must complete a minimum 20 shifts satisfactorily for a volunteer letter of recommendation. Complete the College Volunteer application to get started: volunteers.mdanderson.org
Adult Volunteer Program
We will begin accepting applications for our Adult Volunteer Program on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023.
Teen Volunteer Leadership in Cancer Care Program
For information about our summer Teen Volunteer Leadership in Cance Care Program, visit the teen page.
Questions? Contact us at volunteering@mdanderson.org or 713-792-JOIN.
Ten years ago, I completed my first shift as an inpatient volunteer at MD Anderson’s Texas Medical Center Campus. For the past six years I’ve been volunteering at MD Anderson in The Woodlands, where I focus on making patients and caregivers more comfortable and helping staff members sort mail, make coffee for patients and pass out hats, pillows and blankets. I also chat with patients and caregivers while they wait for their appointments.
Here are four reasons why I volunteer at MD Anderson every week.
MD Anderson stands out from other hospitals
I became passionate about MD Anderson’s mission after a few close family members and friends were diagnosed with cancer. Since MD Anderson is focused exclusively on cancer, they offer many more cancer-focused experts and resources than other hospitals. MD Anderson doctors see more types of cancers in a day than many doctors will treat in an entire career.
Volunteering here helps me give back to this amazing cancer center and contribute to my local community. People often ask me, “Isn’t MD Anderson the most depressing place to volunteer?” Honestly, that couldn’t be further from the truth. MD Anderson is the reason my family members are living fulfilling, cancer-free lives. It’s a place of hope, where patients and caregivers are very thankful for the care they’re receiving.
I get to share my knowledge with patients
When I was a caregiver, I really valued advice from other people who’d been in my shoes. As a volunteer, I can pay it forward and share my experiences with new patients and other caregivers. I like to encourage them to remain proactive in the treatment process and remind them to use the time they have between appointments to relax. And because MD Anderson has so many resources to address everything from physical and emotional side effects to financial and spiritual support, I try to educate newcomers about all the services available to them.
The sense of fulfillment never ends
I worked as a registered nurse for many years and interacted with patients daily as part of their treatment or hospitalization. Volunteering at MD Anderson gives me the opportunity to talk to patients without worrying about nursing tasks. Both the patients and staff are all so grateful for everything we volunteers do. If I can help patients pass the time or let them know that I care about them by simply passing out coffee, hats, pillows or blankets, then I go home feeling good about my contributions that day.
I get to spread hope
It’s hard to imagine the light at the end of the tunnel when you or a loved one has just been diagnosed with cancer. Having volunteers who are either caregivers or survivors is a great reminder that it’s possible to go on to live a very productive life after cancer. My family is living proof of that, and I love encouraging others to keep fighting so that they, too, can enjoy life after cancer … thanks to all the amazing people at MD Anderson.
Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or by calling 1-877-632-6789.
