University of New Haven students stopped by Echlin Hall recently to meet Olivia Reed, volunteer services and community relations coordinator for the Hospital for Special Care (HFSC) based in New Britain, Conn. Part of Reed’s job is to organize outreach for prospective interns and volunteers.
HFSC is a non-profit hospital, and the fourth largest acute care and long-term hospital in the United States. The hospital has locations in New Britain and Hartford, Conn.; both of which have more than 1300 employees, 236 beds and 50,000 outpatient visits per year with eight areas of care expertise including an autism center, brain injury care and cardiac program.
There are many opportunities for students to volunteer at HFSC, such as assisting clinicians in care areas and tending to patients. Reed said the hospital is looking for volunteers who are “self-driven.” The volunteers should also be “passionate about helping [and] being part of our community,” she said.
Reed said she enjoys doing outreach because she loves “meeting other people and connecting with the schools [and] potential applicants who you know may have never even heard of the Hospital for Special Care.”
“It’s pretty incredible – just connecting – making connections and telling people about the amazing things that we do at [HFSC],” she said.
Ashish Upadhyaya, a professor for the School of Health Sciences and the director of the Health Professions Advising Center, helped Reed put together the session. Upadhyaya said he likes having events such as this because it is “helping students forge those professional networks and helping them… having those professional connections is so important.”
Upadhyaya said he holds information sessions to help students get real-world opportunities, but also to help organizations such as the HFSC.
“The Hospital for Special Care really could use volunteer help,” he said. “It’s for a very good cause.”
The requirements for volunteer eligibility include education and training provided by HFSC, being fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and being available to work at least three hours per week for four to six months. Perks include gaining professional experience, meal vouchers for those working over four hours per shift, free parking and much more.
If you want to learn more about the volunteer opportunities and fill out an application, make sure to visit the HFSC volunteer page. The application will be on the same page, which requires an HFSC account to access.