Volunteers

The SHINE Clinic currently has volunteers from the faculties of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Nutrition, and Dentistry. Volunteers apply in September and those that are chosen attend a training session shortly after. Students can apply to be a clinic volunteer or an outreach volunteer.

A typical clinic volunteer shift runs on Saturday from 1:15-6:30pm. Volunteers will arrive at the clinic, assist in clinic set-up, and then be assigned to one of 3 roles: greeter, triage, or health history team. As much as possible, the roles are split up among the faculties to promote a multi-disciplinary atmosphere. Volunteers work with the patients, as well as with our medical, nursing, pharmacy, and social work preceptors to provide care for the patient. Any patients requiring dental services are seen by volunteers prior to attending the dental clinic. Our nutrition students make a meal each week to serve to the patients while they are in the waiting room and are encouraged to talk to patients about nutrition and making meals. Nutrition students also have the opportunity to work with dietetic preceptors in individual patient counseling sessions. During any down-time at the clinic, the preceptors and sometimes students will have opportunity to present cases that are relevant to all faculties. At the end of the shift, volunteers will help with clean up.

Volunteer commitment is for an entire Saturday shift, and depending on the number of volunteers can be anywhere from 1 shift every couple of weeks to 1 shift every few months. Volunteers are able to receive reference letters for their work at the SHINE clinic. In addition to clinic work, SHINE hosts several events throughout the year, such as the Community BBQ and Knits and Mitts Fundraiser, which volunteers may participate in.