Volunteer Opportunities
Thank you for your interest in volunteering and helping to make a difference at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. Our volunteers play an important role as members of the Mass. Eye and Ear community. They provide the extra support that can help make the patient experience easier. Volunteers work in a variety of areas including:
- Specimen Transport and Patient Escort
- Surgical Center
- Surgical Chart Room
- Family Waiting Room
- Adult Inpatient Unit
- Pediatric Inpatient Unit and Child Life Program
The Volunteer Department works to match interested volunteers with appropriate and compatible assignments. Volunteering has its own special rewards and we are confident that you will gain a sense of satisfaction and a feeling of accomplishment. We invite you to join our volunteer community.
Student Volunteer Programs
Mass. Eye and Ear offers several volunteer programs for high school and college students.
Mass. Eye and Ear's Clinical Exploratory Program was developed to offer a wholesome experience to our undergraduate student volunteers. It is divided into two experiences followed by a final clinical experience.
This program will allow you to complete two consecutive summers and one winter, and get a clinical experience at the end of the program. Out-of-State College students or any student interested in our Summer-Winter-Summer Program, please email volunteer@meei.harvard.edu for more information.
Include your contact information, telephone number and your summer break start and end dates. We will get back to you promptly.
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we have closed both summer sessions for 2020. We look forward to resuming this program in 2021. Thank you for your understanding and support.
Information on this program is available below under “What is the process for underage volunteers?”
- Summer Session I (Must volunteer for at least 7 weeks in June and July. Must be 16 years old by June 1st 2021). Application will be available on Monday, March 1, 2021.
- Summer Session II (Must volunteer for at least 7 weeks in July and August. Must be 16 years old by July 1st 2021). Application will be available on Monday, April 5, 2021.
Prospects must meet our minimum time requirement in order to apply. You will be contacted for an in-person interview shortly after we receive your application. Completion of this application does not guarantee you a volunteer position.
Volunteer Information
Mass. Eye and Ear welcomes volunteers including students, homemakers, retirees and working professionals with full- and part-time jobs. Our volunteer program runs seven days a week, days and evenings. You can select the time and day that works best for you. We seek individuals who are 16 years of age and older and who can give at least three consecutive hours of service one day a week for a minimum of four months. The number of hours served weekly changes depending on the volunteer role or program.
Volunteers ages 16 and 17 can participate in the summer or regular program as long as they have a parental consent. We offer a summer program for high school students between June and August. It is eight consecutive weeks long offered in two sessions: Summer Session I (June-July), and Summer Session II (July-August). Underage volunteers can only volunteer during weekdays, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm for a maximum of 2 shifts per week. Each shift is 4-5 hours long. High School volunteers are placed in areas with direct adult supervision and high patient or staff interaction. Our goal is to provide a great learning experience with opportunity for personal growth.
In cases where underage prospects have more flexibility, the requirements and policies remain the same but the opportunity expands to all year long. This allows college students under 18 years old to volunteer during their spring and fall semesters.
There are several ways to volunteer, both at the Main Campus at 243 Charles Street and our location at 800 Huntington Avenue. In each setting, volunteers have the option of a variety of assignments. We do our best to match your unique interests, skills and talents to a compatible volunteer assignment so that you will have an enjoyable and rewarding volunteer experience.
Adults over the age of 18 may submit our online application.
16 and 17 year old prospects can submit an email to volunteer@meei.harvard.edu with questions or to request an application.
Milton S. Calderon
Manager
617-573-3164
milton_calderon@meei.harvard.edu
General Volunteer Questions:
617-807-7878
volunteer@meei.harvard.edu
