Volunteer Horizontal Menu
Volunteer Footer Menu

Hospital Volunteer Program

Volunteer playing with child in the playroom

There is no greater reward than making a difference in the life of a sick or injured child.

CHOC volunteers generously dedicate their time to help us provide the very best pediatric care in Orange County. For almost 50 years, the volunteer programs at CHOC Hospital in Orange and CHOC at Mission Hospital have provided vital assistance to all hospital departments.

We are currently looking for compassionate, enthusiastic people who are committed to making a difference in not just their own lives, but also the lives around them.

For more information on applying to our program, please sign up for one of our information sessions.

Volunteer Opportunities

CHOC assigns volunteer positions based on the current needs of the hospital along with the volunteer’s availability, interests and skill sets.

Currently, our highest needs are shifts scheduled Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Night and weekend positions are limited.

Our volunteers:

  • Greet visitors as they arrive
  • Escort families around the hospital
  • Assist in office clerical support
  • Help visitors and families in the Family Resource Center
  • Offer coloring and reading activities for patients in our waiting/lobby areas
  • Assess the comfort needs of families on the many units
  • Assist in discharging our patients
  • Assist our child life specialists in playrooms

Detailed information about our volunteer roles is provided at our information sessions.

Our volunteer program does not offer job training, internship, practicum or medical shadowing programs.

One-day volunteer opportunities

Volunteer services does not offer any type of one-day volunteer opportunities. Anyone interested in coming to visit our patients for one day to host a special event must receive approval by our child life department. Please visit our special visitor guidelines to learn more.

Pet Therapy

We are not currently onboarding pet therapy dogs at our hospital campuses at this time. Please check back periodically for an update.

To be considered to join our pet therapy program, you must have a dog already certified under Pet Partners. Dogs not permitted in CHOC’s pet therapy program at CHOC include pit bulls, Rottweilers, Presa Canarios, akitas, Alaskan malamutes, chow chows, Doberman pinschers and Siberian huskies. No exceptions.

If you have any questions or would like more information about our pet therapy program, please email us at volunteers@choc.org.

COPE Health Scholars Program

The COPE Health Scholars Program at CHOC offers local and diverse youth interested in pursuing health careers firsthand experience working alongside nurses, physicians, administrators and other healthcare professionals.

To learn more about the COPE Health Scholars Program and apply, visit copehealthscholars.org.

Stories From Our Volunteers

My Journey from CHOC Patient to CHOC Volunteer
Daniel is back at CHOC― this time as a volunteer. I get to entertain kids in the same waiting rooms I used to visit as a patient.


Lifelong Pediatrician Becomes CHOC Volunteer
As a lead patient hospitality volunteer, Dr. Bruno assists families during the discharge process and ensures they get safely from their hospital room to their car.


Volunteer Role Awakens Professional Calling
Brianna started volunteering at CHOC when she was just 16 years old. She thought CHOC would be a worthy place to donate her time.