A Tradition of Volunteering
Beginning in 1941, then-Hospital Director Harley Haynes sought to build a program to supplement staff resources depleted by World War II.
Beginning with just under 200 individuals at the “Old Main” hospital, the volunteer program at Michigan Medicine grew over the next 80 years to more than 2,000 volunteers who augment the work of faculty and staff across the entire hospital system.
From the main hospital campus to clinics and health centers across the region, Michigan Medicine volunteers provide direct support for our patients, families, and care providers. They also support our research labs, assist with clerical tasks, and help in the delivery of our community outreach programs such as Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels, Turner Senior Resource Center, and FRIENDS Gift Shops. Volunteers lend their voices and share their experiences as patient advisors, peer mentors, and advisory councils for the Office of Patient Experience and the FRIENDS Advisory Board. And they provide support for non-clinical therapies including Gifts of Art and Healing Butterfly Garden.
Volunteer Services, a program of Community Health Services, would like to thank all of the volunteers who have supported our patients, families, and care providers throughout our 80+ year history. Clearly much has changed, but one tradition stands strong—our volunteers!
Volunteer Services is pleased to announce that the application for new, general volunteers is now open for the Spring/Summer session! Please visit the New Volunteers page to view volunteer requirements, then click “General Volunteers” for instructions on how to apply. Please note, we can only accept a limited number of applications based on available volunteer placements, so it is important to apply as soon as you are able to meet the requirements. Volunteer Services continues to accept applications for pre-approved volunteers. See the Pre-Approved Volunteers page for more information about that application process.
