UCLA Health Sciences Programs
About the UCLA Health Sciences Programs
The UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Programs and hospital-based volunteer programs operate under the department of UCLA Health Volunteer Services; however, Health Sciences volunteers are onboarded and cleared through the Center for Health Sciences (CHS) Volunteer Office.
The Health Sciences Volunteer Programs do not recruit directly. Participation is by invitation from a faculty member or approved staff sponsor. The CHS Volunteer Office provides onboarding and required clearances for invited students and eligible individuals participating in laboratory-based assignments, clinical research or quality improvement projects, administrative roles, educational volunteer programs, and approved formalized shadowing programs.
Invitation and eligibility are determined by policy, the sponsoring department, and the UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Office, with priority given to UCLA undergraduates.
Research volunteer opportunities are primarily intended for undergraduate students seeking an introductory research experience to complement a pre-health curriculum under close faculty and staff supervision.
Clinical UCLA Health Sciences (CUHS) Volunteer Program
The CUHS program processes onboarding and clearances for invited volunteers and UCLA SRP students supporting clinical research, quality improvement, administrative projects, School of Dentistry assignments, and approved formalized shadowing programs.
Note: Volunteers invited by Ophthalmology, Pediatrics, or Radiology must be processed through this program, even for non-clinical assignments.
A volunteer role is classified as Clinical if the position involves any of the following activities:
- Direct contact or interaction with patients or human research subjects
- Access to or handling of identifiable, clinical, or medical information
- Performing duties in clinical settings such as hospitals, clinics, or waiting areas
Non-Clinical UCLA Health Sciences (NCUHS) Volunteer Program
The NCUHS program processes onboarding and clearances for invited volunteers and UCLA SRP students supporting non-clinical research, such as laboratory work or literature reviews, and non-clinical administrative projects.
UCLA Health Formalized and Approved Shadowing Programs
Per policy, UCLA Health shadowing is strictly limited to formal, approved UCLA Health/DGSOM shadowing programs. Volunteers and students—including UCLA SRP students—may not shadow health professionals outside of these programs, even with direct permission, and all shadowing must take place during designated, assigned shifts.
The formalized and approved shadowing programs are processed through the Volunteer Office. However, each program has its own application, recruitment, and clearance process coordinated by program supervisors, and shadowing participation is separate from volunteer roles. The Volunteer Office is not involved with the recruitment for these programs.
If you are invited to shadow a faculty from UCLA Health, please direct them to the UCLA Health Summer Shadowing Program.
Volunteering: To Get Started
Please visit our Volunteer Application Webpage for more information.
For any questions please visit our page.