If you are a Penn State student who is interested in health care and helping others, there are many opportunities at UHS for you to become involved. Just read what three students had to say about their volunteer experiences:

"I like the leadership opportunities. I also like participating in event planning because it feels good to see something you've talked about actually happen."

"Students feel empowered. We have the responsibility and opportunity to take initiative. I've gotten excellent experience through outreach activities."

"I like the direct interaction with students to address their concerns, questions, and misconceptions."

 

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

Office of Emergency Medical Services
Contact: EMS Manager, 123 Student Health Center, 865-1772

The Office of Emergency Medical Services is responsible for all emergency medical services on the University Park Campus. The Office operates the University Ambulance Service (UAS) and coordinates emergency medical services for nearly 300 special events covering over 1.2 million participants and guests each year at University Park and in the State College, PA area.

The UAS is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and responds to approximately 600 ambulance calls per year on the University Park Campus.

The Office of EMS is always looking for certified Pennsylvania EMTs and Paramedics to become new volunteers with UAS.

New volunteer EMTs are scheduled on either day or night ambulance shifts with regular crew members for training and orientation. Students fill various company officer positions, and receive leadership training and opportunities as part of their service experience.

If you are not currently certified as a Pennsylvania EMT, there are many local training opportunities to become certified. Penn State offers the EMT course (KINES 403) every semester.

Volunteers who have gone through the orientation program may become eligible to apply for regular ambulance and special events crew positions. These are part-time paid positions with the Office of EMS. Applications are accepted from EMTs, EMT-Ps, AND EMT-HPs who are Penn State students and have completed the University Ambulance Service volunteer training program and hold certifications in CPR, AED, EVOC, and HAZMAT-Ops.

For an application to be considered as a volunteer EMT, check out our web site at www.psu.edu/dept/ems. The completed application should be returned to the Penn State Office of Emergency Medical Services, 123 Student Health Center, University Park, PA 16802.

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CLINIC VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
Contact: Joan Donahey, LPN at (jzd7@psu.edu) in the Student Health Center, 865-6557

Frequently Asked Questions

Applications are currently closed.
The University Health Services Clinic Volunteer Program provides students with the opportunity to interact professionally with patients in the General Medicine Department.

For more information, click here.

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HEALTH PROMOTION AND WELLNESS

University Health Services has a number of opportunities for you to become involved. Students who participate in our programs report that they enhance their communication skills, learn about current health issues, gain experience in college health, serve fellow students, develop leadership skills, enrich their Penn State experience, and build friendships that will last a lifetime.

Our programs offer you the opportunity to prepare yourself for a variety of professions. Following is a sample of the areas in which our alumni pursue graduate study and professional careers:

HealthWorks
Contact: HealthWorks Advisor, 201J Student Health Center, 863-0461

HealthWorks is a peer education outreach program dedicated to serving the Penn State community by educating students about important wellness; nutrition; sexual health; and alcohol, tobacco and other drug issues. HealthWorks educators facilitate workshops, sponsor University-wide outreach events, and advocate for health within the University and larger community. They develop social marketing techniques to expose Penn State students to healthy choices.

HealthWorks Peer Educators are trained during Fall semester. The training consists of two courses which offer academic credits. A one-credit Biobehavioral Health course offers training in how to be a HealthWorks educator; both theory and leadership skills are addressed. The second course, which is two credits will provide information on college health issues relevant to each content area as well as presentation skills. Students will choose a specialization in one of the four content areas listed above.

To apply to be a HealthWorks Educator, please visit HealthWorks or stop by the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness, 201 Student Health Center, University Park, PA. Application deadlines are traditionally in the Spring for the following fall.

HIV/AIDS Risk Reduction Advisory Council (HARRAC)

To apply to join the Advisory Council, visit the HARRAC website.

The mission of HARRAC is to enhance the sexual health of Penn State students and reduce their risk of HIV/AIDS through health promotion and activism that is student directed. This group works to achieve this by promoting sexual health through social marketing and innovative programming, creating awareness of HIV testing, increasing access to sexual health protection, and working cooperatively with other student groups. Their primary message is "Don't ignore it. Prevent it."  Volunteer opportunities include serving as a Safer Sex Party facilitator, Peer Networker, and Advisory Council member. HARRAC receives partial funding from the North Central District AIDS Coalition. For more information, visit the HARRAC website.

Individual Peer Health Education Service
Contact: Community Health Educator and Program Coordinator, 201 Student Health Center, 863-0461

Intervention services provided by students are available for alcohol and marijuana violations, smoking cessation and HIV pre- and post- test counseling. There is a one year commitment required and training is offered during the fall semester with continuing educational opportunities throughout the academic year.

The Individual Peer Health and Education Service provides students in human service majors with experience in individualized health promotion and education. Volunteer students and students enrolled in BioBehavioral Health 497 receive intense training in educational and motivational counseling and special topics, such as alcohol use and abuse, marijuana use and abuse, tobacco and sexual health.

For more information and an application to be a Student Interventionist, click here or stop by the Office of Health Promotion and Education, 201 Student Health Center, University Park, PA. Application review and interviews are conducted during spring semester.

Project SmokeLess
Contact: Linda LaSalle, 863-0461 or E-mail.

The mission of Project SmokeLess is to reduce smoking and improve the health of Penn State Students. The group works to achieve this by increasing awareness about the harmful side effects of tobacco smoke pollution and by increasing student advocacy for smoke-free environments.  See http://www.smokefree.psu.edu/  for more information.

S-Plan
Contact: S-Plan, 201 Student Health Center, 865-7134

S-Plan (Support, Survival and Success for African-American and Latino students new to Penn State) is designed to promote the mental and physical health of African-American and Latino students and to assist students within these populations with the adjustments to campus life, as well as the management of stresses they may experience in their first year

S-Plan Student Leaders meet with new students in informal groups to discuss their concerns, introduce them to campus resources, and provide opportunities for socializing. S-Plan Leaders also plan and implement programs on issues of interest to students of color.

Training for S-Plan Leaders includes cultural and health issues relevant to students of color. They learn leadership, team building, mentoring, and communication skills. S-Plan Leaders receive one to three academic credits of African/African American Studies (AAAS) for their training and involvement in the program each semester.

S-Plan Leaders must have attended two semesters of S-Plan programming as a new student prior to becoming an S-Plan Leader. To learn more about becoming an S-Plan Leader, see S-Plan or stop by the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness, 201 Student Health Center, University Park, PA. Applications are traditionally accepted in March for the following fall.

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PHYSICAL THERAPY

Physical Therapy Volunteers
Contact: Physical Therapy Department, 101 Student Health Center, 865-7381

University Health Services Physical Therapy Department (UHS-PT) is dedicated to serving students with neuromusculoskeletal injuries. The goal of UHS-PT is to facilitate the recovery of the patient to their desired level of activity.

The PT Volunteer Program offers opportunities for students who are interested in pursuing a career in physical therapy or other health related fields. Student volunteers are encouraged to observe the physical therapist/physical therapist assistant/athletic trainer-patient interaction and ask questions.

Opportunities may arise for student volunteers to follow a patient through their exercise program. Training for PT Volunteers takes place at the beginning of each semester. Training includes an administrative and an infection control orientation given by UHS staff. Orientation specific to the PT Department is given by the PT staff.

For an application to be a PT volunteer, visit room 101 in the Student Health Center. Student volunteers are scheduled on a first come-first served semester basis and hours/days usually range from 2-4 hours/1-2 days per week. Internship opportunities are also available.