For nearly 60 years, volunteers have been a vital part of The University of Tennessee Medical Center. Whether you’re a teen, college student or adult looking to share your time and talent, there’s a volunteer opportunity for you.
Become a Member of our Team in Blue
Volunteer Services coordinates the activities of three main groups of volunteers: Adult Volunteers, College Students, and Teen Volunteers. And lifting the spirits of our patients and families is what the volunteer program is all about.
To learn more about becoming a member of our volunteer team, read about our requirements and the benefits gained by volunteering.
Now taking applications for:
- Lobby and wayfinding volunteers
- Surgery lounge attendants
- Gift shop volunteers
- Active volunteers who love to walk (you could log one mile or more a shift)
Volunteer and Make a Difference
In 2021, 150 people volunteered across 38 departments throughout the medical center. They logged more than 21,000 hours, saving the medical center more than $600,000 in labor costs.
Why do our volunteers keep coming back? Because they are passionate about making a difference at the medical center and in their community. And they reap great benefits from volunteering, in happier and longer lives, and even in medical center perks.
Volunteering: By the Numbers
1962: The first volunteers started at the medical center
1972: The Volunteer Auxiliary opened our hospital Gift Shop
750,000+: The number of hours volunteers have donated since 1962
14-95: The range of ages of medical center volunteers
Our History
The first volunteers began working at the medical center in 1962. And 10 years later, the Volunteer Auxiliary opened the hospital’s Gift Shop. Since then, the Auxiliary has provided more than 750,000 hours and $2 million to the Medical Center.
Proceeds from the Gift Shop, along with other volunteer fund-raising efforts, provide equipment and financial assistance to various departments. Plus, all proceeds from vendor events are reinvested into the medical center. Here are some examples of items and assistance that volunteers have helped provide:
- Mobile mammography equipment
- East Tennessee’s first dedicated hospital K-9 program
- Expansion of the NICU to provide private rooms for families to stay with at-risk newborns
- Wheelchairs for patient transportation
- Special blood storage refrigerator for Lifestar to help with immediate lift off and response
- Rocking chairs for new mothers and surgical patients
- Digital cameras used in the intensive care nursery for family photo albums
- Blood pressure machines for patient care
- Blanket warmers for the cancer patients undergoing treatment
- Renovation of the Health Information Center and Preston Medical Library
- Re-certifications for the nursing staff for the Magnet Program
- Proceeds to the Pastoral Care Program for patients with special needs
Volunteer Resources
In return for their donation of time and expertise, we provide our volunteers with the following resources:
- Free parking each time you volunteer
- Free meal each day you volunteer at least four hours
- A 20 percent discount in our Gift Shop
- Appreciation gifts and luncheons at various times of the year
- Women on the Adult Volunteer team receive a free mammogram after one year of service
Other Volunteer Resources
Health Information Center
The Health Information Center, located in the main lobby, provides patients, family members and the community with a health library, digital and print resources, walk-in assistance, and help with research on health conditions — all free of charge.
Healthcare Coordination
Members of the Healthcare Coordination team assist patients before, during and after their visit to The University of Tennessee Medical Center. Easy, quick and hassle-free doctor appointment service provided just for you. Call 865-305-6970 to speak with a team member.
Visit Our Pharmacy
Why not get your prescriptions filled while you’re volunteering? University Pharmacy is located conveniently in the lobby adjacent to the Gift Shop and Cafeteria. We offer prescription refills 24/7 and you can pick up orders during regular business hours.
Current Volunteers
Already a volunteer? Access your Volgistics account to sign up for shifts or make changes to your schedule. Log into Volgistics:
Volunteer Training
Our volunteers play a vital role at UT Medical Center. To keep our accreditation, each volunteer must complete annual training. This includes reading through training Power Point presentations and taking a short quiz.