Keck Medical Center of USC Volunteer Program
As a hospital volunteer, you can help make a difference in the lives of our patients and their families.
Keck Medical Center of USC Volunteer Program
As a hospital volunteer, you can help make a difference in the lives of our patients and their families.
Give Back to Your Community as a Hospital Volunteer
Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer at Keck Medical Center of USC, which includes Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Cancer Hospital. Each year, over 600 compassionate individuals from our Los Angeles community volunteer over 100,000 hours of service in different areas of our hospitals and outpatient clinics.
Volunteers are placed in non-clinical settings and help to provide care and compassion, one of the most important aspects of health care, to our patients and their families. Volunteers help create an atmosphere of friendliness for our patients by helping in areas such as hospital admitting or in specific departments such as neurology, physical therapy and more. In addition, volunteers help support professional staff by allowing clinicians more time to care for patients.
If you are looking for an opportunity to expand your skills and give back to your community, we invite you to become a Keck Medical Center volunteer. Your commitment can make a difference in the lives that are entrusted to us every day.
Volunteer Opportunities
At Keck Medical Center, we have volunteer opportunities available for both adults and teenagers at:
Note: High school students (ages 16-17) can volunteer at either Keck Hospital or USC Norris Cancer Hospital through our Summer Youth Volunteer Program.
Volunteering at Keck Hospital (For Adults)
Keck Hospital welcomes community members who are 18 years of age and older with the opportunity to help improve the hospital experience for patients, their families, caregivers and the hospital staff.
What You Can Do: You can volunteer in many areas, including concierge, admitting, clinics, and department specialties like neurology, cardiology, orthopedics, hematology, oncology, physical therapy, occupational therapy and more.
Schedule: Keck Hospital requires all volunteers to complete 40 hours of administrative and outpatient service to familiarize you with our hospital (Level I Opportunities). Once volunteers satisfy our 40-hour requirement, they can assist in our department specialty units (Level II Opportunities).
We currently offer opportunities for Level I Volunteers Monday-Friday in one of the following 4-hour blocks:
- 8 a.m.-noon
- noon-4 p.m.
- 4 -8 p.m.
Opportunities for weekend shifts are offered to Level II Volunteers only and are based upon availability and within the same 4-hour time block as Level I Volunteers.
Apply Now: If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at Keck Hospital, please click here to apply.
Volunteering at USC Norris Cancer Hospital (For Adults)
USC Norris Cancer Hospital welcomes community members who are 18 years of age and older with the opportunity to help improve the hospital experience for patients, their families, caregivers and staff.
What You Can Do: You can volunteer in various departments of our medical system, including clinics, the Admitting Department, the Image Enhancement Center, the Day Hospital, the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, the art cart and more.
Schedule: Availability of these opportunities is based on the current needs of the hospital and the volunteer’s suitability and experience. Volunteers must work at least 4 hours per week. Evening and weekend hours have limited availability.
Apply Now: If you are interested in volunteering at USC Norris Cancer Hospital, please click here to apply.
Summer Youth Volunteer Program
The Summer Youth Volunteer Program welcomes high school students between the ages of 16 and 17 to gain hands-on experience volunteering at either Keck Hospital or USC Norris Cancer Hospital.
What You Can Do: You can volunteer in many areas, including concierge, admitting, clinics and department specialties, like neurology, cardiology, orthopedics, hematology, oncology, physical therapy, occupational therapy and more.
Apply Now: If you are interested in becoming a Summer Youth Volunteer, please click here to apply.
Contact Us
Email: volunteer@med.usc.edu
Phone number: (323) 442-8436
Volunteer Requirements for Adults
To volunteer at Keck Hospital of USC or USC Norris Cancer Hospital, you must:
- Be 18 years of age or older to volunteer
- Have graduated from high school
- Attend orientation
- Be able to adhere to hospital safety, policies and procedures
- Pass a background check
- Go through a health screening (including a tuberculosis test)
- Show proof of complete COVID-19 vaccination series (including booster)
- Show proof of flu immunization (between October – April)
In addition, you must commit to:
- Volunteer for 6 months and 100 hours of service
- At least one 4-hour-long shift per week — maximum allowed is 2 shifts per week
Volunteer Requirements for Teens
To volunteer with our Summer Youth Program, you must:
- Be 16 to 17 years old when the application is submitted
- Currently be enrolled in high school
- Go through a health screening (including a tuberculosis test)
- Show proof of complete COVID-19 vaccination series (including booster)
In addition, you must commit to:
- A minimum of 60 hours of service before the end of the program
- Completing a minimum of 8 hours per week for the duration of the 8-week program
Apply to Be a Volunteer
Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer at Keck Medical Center of USC. Please follow the steps below to apply for the volunteer program you are interested in.
Application Process for Adults
- Complete the online application.
- If your application is accepted, we will schedule a 1:1 interview with you.
- Once you pass the interview phase, the Office of Volunteer Services will send a follow-up email on next steps, including the orientation.
- After orientation, you must schedule a health assessment with Keck Medicine’s Employee Health Services. The health assessment includes:
- Written documentation of at least 2 vaccinations for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) received as a child for individuals born after 1957, or one KKR given after age 17.
- A two-step TB skin test screening for tuberculosis. This may mean up to four visits to the Employee Health Services department. Individuals that test positive must have a written report or chest X-ray results taken within the previous year.
- Proof of complete COVID-19 vaccination series (including booster)
- Proof of flu vaccination (seasonal)
- Completion of background check
- The Office of Volunteer Services will reach out to you to schedule an onboarding tour/start date.
Application Period
For adults who want to volunteer, we will be accepting new applications during the application periods listed below or until capacity has been reached for the corresponding period. Orientations are held virtually on the Tuesday of the corresponding orientation sessions below from 3 to 5 p.m.
| APPLICATION PERIOD | ORIENTATION SESSION |
| Dec. 1 – Jan. 31 | Second week of February |
| Feb. 1 – March 31 | Second week of April |
| April 1 – May 31 | Second week of June |
| June 1 – July 31 | Second week of August |
| Aug. 1 – Sept. 30 | Second week of October |
| Oct. 1 – Nov. 30 | Second week of December |
Apply Now
If you are interested in volunteering at USC Norris Cancer Hospital, please click here to apply.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at Keck Hospital, please click here to apply.
Application Process for Teens
- Complete the online application for the Summer Youth Volunteer Program. Click here to apply.
- When submitting your application to us, you will also need to include the following:
- One high-definition self-portrait photo
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
- Completed questionnaire
- You will also need to submit a letter of recommendation. Letters of recommendation must be sent by your recommenders to volunteer@med.usc.edu by the application deadline of April 30.
- If your application is accepted, we will schedule a 1:1 interview with you.
- After your interview, the Office of Volunteer Services will send out a checklist of items to complete before orientation. This includes completing a health screening.
- After the orientation, junior volunteers will attend an in-person tour and get to know their fellow volunteers.
Application Period
For the Summer Youth Volunteer Program, new applications will be accepted during the application period below, or until capacity has been reached for the summer. Date and time for orientation will be provided to accepted volunteers.
| APPLICATION PERIOD | ORIENTATION SESSION |
| Feb. 1 – April 30 | Second week of June |
Apply Now
If you are interested in becoming a Summer Youth Volunteer, please click here to apply.
Frequently Asked Questions About Volunteering
How old do I need to be to volunteer at your hospital?
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older to volunteer.
If you are 16-17 and currently enrolled in high school, please explore our Summer Youth Volunteer Program.
What if I’m not 16 when I submit my application to the Summer Youth Volunteer Program?
Unfortunately, we will not be able to accept your application, as our policy states all volunteers must be 16 years or older at the time they apply. However, we encourage you to apply next year.
What is the time commitment for being a hospital volunteer?
For adults: Adult volunteers must make at least a 6-month commitment and a minimum of 100 hours of service. Volunteers must commit to at least one 4-hour shift per week.
For teens: Youth Volunteers must complete at least 8 hours per week over the 8-week summer program.
Do you offer volunteers a letter of recommendation?
If you are looking to receive a letter of recommendation, those are available to volunteers who complete 1 year of service and 200 hours of total service.
Can I sign up for more shifts to complete my 100 hours before 6 months?
We welcome volunteers to sign up for additional shifts. However, the 6-month commitment is still required from all volunteers in our program.
Can I shadow a nurse or doctor during my volunteer shift?
No, shadowing is not permitted through this volunteer program. If you are caught shadowing a doctor or nurse, you will be immediately removed from our volunteer program.
I will be out of town for 4 weeks for winter/spring break. Will I get removed from the volunteer program?
If you foresee that you will need to take time off from volunteer work for longer than 4 weeks, you must contact us and sign a “Volunteer Leave of Absence” form.
Can I become a volunteer without attending an orientation?
No, attending our virtual orientation is a mandatory requirement. Please refer to our orientation schedule on the main volunteer page.
What vaccinations are required for me to volunteer at your hospital?
To volunteer at Keck Medical Center, we require the following:
- Full COVID-19 vaccine series (with booster)
- Flu vaccination during flu season (October-April)
- Tuberculosis (TB) screening and clearance
I am currently in school, and my hours of availability fluctuate, are you able to work with my availability?
We do our best to accommodate current volunteers with schedule changes. Availability is based on a first come, first served basis. We recommend that you email our Volunteer Office with any changes to your schedule as soon as you know them.
I am a junior/senior in college and a premed major, and I am interested in volunteering at Keck Medicine of USC. Can I skip the Level I assignment and start at a clinical unit?
No, we require all volunteers to complete Level I assignments prior to moving to Level II assignments.
I completed my 1-year commitment and 200 hours to the volunteer program. Can I continue volunteering?
Yes! If you have completed your 1-year commitment and 200 hours, we welcome you to continue volunteering with us.
Is there anything that I need to do, when I decide to stop volunteering?
Yes, if you decide to stop volunteering, please send an email to our volunteer email. We also require you to turn over your badge to us.
