Volunteer Overview

Volunteer Locations & Program Information

Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital

NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, a 299 bed facility located right off the George Washington Bridge, offers the best available care in every area of pediatrics — including the most complex neonatal and critical care, and all areas of pediatric subspecialties — in a family-friendly and technologically advanced setting. Building a reputation for more than a century as one of the nation’s premier children’s hospitals, Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital is affiliated with the Department of Pediatrics at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and is Manhattan’s only hospital dedicated solely to the care of children and one of the largest providers of children’s health services in the tri-state area with a long-standing commitment to its community. It is also a major international referral center, meeting the special needs of children from infancy through adolescence worldwide.

Volunteer Opportunities

Patient & Visitor Screening Program

In an effort to keep all of our patients, visitors and staff safe, Patient & Visitor Screening volunteers will assist in welcoming and screening all patients and visitors for fever and other symptoms, Covid-19 exposures, and recent travel history when they enter the hospital. Assist with providing all patients/visitors with masks as they enter the site and ask them to perform hand hygiene.

Must be 18 years of age or older
Available daily, 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Radio Lollipop

The Radio Lollipop at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital is a volunteer driven program.  Volunteers man an onsite interactive radio studio that can be patient operated and broadcasted to every room within the hospital. The On-air broadcast also features games, art projects, storytelling and contests in which kids win prizes. Volunteer deejays create excitement among patients by playing music hits, taking call-in requests and putting kids "on air" to actively participate in the magic of radio. Under the direction of Child Life staff, volunteers provide arts and crafts activities and play games with patients at bedside.

Must be 18 years of age or older

Available Monday through Friday, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Child Life (Pediatrics)

The Child Life Program at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital is a therapeutic play and activities program. It is designed to reduce the emotional impact of illness and hospitalization on children and their families. Members of the professional Child Life staff are trained in child development, psychology, education and other closely related fields. Child Life staff addresses some of the special needs of hospitalized children and adolescents by providing age-appropriate and therapeutic play activities which foster continued growth and development. The assistance of Child Life volunteers is vital to meeting this goal. Volunteers can welcome patients and families, provide toys, arts and crafts activities, play games with patients and be a companion when one is needed. Under the direct supervisor of a Child Life Specialist, volunteers can play with children both in the playroom, at bedside and in Same Day Surgery department.

Must be 18 years of age or older
Available Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Emergency Department (Pediatrics)

With genuine concern and compassion, volunteers in the emergency department provide emotional support to the patients and their families in the waiting room. Volunteers liaise between patients, families and clinical staff, and are trained in various methods of interaction with children such as one-to-one or group readings, board games, activities, drawing, etc.

Must be 18 years of age or older
Available daily, 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM

The Family Resource Center

The Family Resource Center, centrally located on the first floor central of the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NY and the Sloane Hospital for Women, provides a warm, quiet and inviting place where families may conduct computer research on issues facing their children. It is staffed with a full time Health Librarian, who will manage the center and assist families with research requests on diagnoses and other health and hospital related issues. Information on other resources are also available at the center. The volunteer will assist the Family Resource Center Librarian as well as patients and families in navigating the amenities available in the FRC (computers, fax/copy, etc.) In addition, volunteers may deliver information packets to designated patient/family rooms.

Must be 21 years of age or older
Available Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Clerical Volunteers

Provide clerical support to hospital staff in various departments. Volunteers play an important role in assisting in the efficient function of our hospital departments. Tasks include filing, faxing, answering phones, data entry and typing. Knowledge of the computer is helpful but not required. Opportunities are available in different settings such as the main hospital, clinical and our medical practices.

Must be 18 years of age or older
Available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Occupational/Physical Therapy

Volunteers assist therapists with follow-up phone surveys, appointment confirmation and patient registration. They greet patients upon arrival, and assist therapists with a variety of tasks such as setup/cleanup of the treatment area, organizing materials, assisting with treatment groups, folding towels, sheets, and gowns.

Must be 18 years of age or older and already be enrolled in a PT/OT program
Available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Sloane Hospital for Women: Ante & Post Partum Units

Volunteers are trained to visit expectant and new mothers to assess their needs and to provide a warm welcome environment. Volunteers will provide much needed general office assistance at the direction of departmental staff. Duties may include answering telephones, filing, data entry, or the use of innovative technology to survey patients at bedside to obtain feedback in real time. .  Ideal candidates should be compassionate, empathic, and tech savvy.

Must be 18 years of age or older
Available Monday through Friday, 9:00AM – 5:00PM