HPA Volunteer Opportunities
At Soka University of America, students are committed to lives of service and advocacy. This dedication reflects the university’s values and mission to foster contributive global citizens and aligns closely with the AAMC Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students, including service orientation, cultural competence, and social responsibility.
Below is a curated list of opportunities for volunteering and community engagement. These experiences support academic preparation while helping students develop their commitment to equity, compassion, and human dignity through meaningful health-related work.
Local Hospital & Clinical Volunteering
- Saddleback Medical Center (MemorialCare)
https://www.memorialcare.org/employees-volunteers/volunteer-saddleback-medical-center - Hoag Hospital
https://www.hoag.org/education-resources/volunteer/ - UCI Health Volunteer Services
https://www.ucihealth.org/volunteer - CHOC Children’s Hospital Volunteer
https://choc.org/volunteer/ - Mission Hospital Mission Viejo (Providence)
https://www.providence.org/locations/socal/mission-hospital-mission-viejo/about-us/volunteers - Orange Coast Medical Center (MemorialCare)
https://www.memorialcare.org/locations/orange-coast-medical-center/volunteer-services
Free Clinics & Community Health
- Clinic in the Park
https://www.clinicinthepark.org/ - Orange County Free Clinic
https://www.orangecountyfreeclinic.org/volunteer/ - Lestonnac Free Clinic (Orange)
https://www.lestonnacfreeclinic.org/general-volunteer - Share Our Selves (Costa Mesa)
https://shareourselves.org/get-involved/ - ICNA Relief – Crescent Clinic (Fullerton)
https://icnarelief.org/crescentclinic/volunteers/
LGBTQ+ & Youth-Focused Clinics
- Radiant Health Centers
https://www.radianthealthcenters.org/get-involved/volunteer
Hospice & Palliative Care Volunteering
- Traditions Health
https://www.traditionshealth.com/about-us/volunteer/ - VNA Hospice & Palliative Care of Southern California
https://vna.health/volunteering/ - Companion Hospice
https://www.companionhealthgroup.com/volunteer/
Nursing Home & Senior Care Volunteering
- Heritage Pointe
https://www.heritagepointe.org/contact-us/volunteer/ - Age Well Senior Services
https://agewellseniorservices.org/volunteer/ - Orange County Office on Aging
https://www.officeonaging.ocgov.com/opportunities/volunteer-opportunities
Public Health & Government
- Orange County Health Care Agency
https://www.ochealthinfo.com/careers-jobs/volunteer-services - California Department of Public Health (Volunteer Intern Program) https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPDE/Pages/VolunteerInternshipProgram.aspx
Health Advocacy
- Orange County Needle Exchange Program (OCNEP)
https://ocnep.org/ - Voice of Refugees
https://www.voiceofrefugees.org/contact - World Relief SoCal (Orange County)
https://worldrelief.org/socal/volunteer/ - CWS Orange County
https://cwsglobal.org/our-impact/refugees/ - Tiyya
https://www.tiyya.org/volunteer - Harm Reduction Institute (Santa Ana) – not currently taking volunteers, but may soon https://www.harmreductioninstitute.org/faqs
- Orange County Rescue Mission
https://www.rescuemission.org/get-involved/volunteer/
Need Help Getting Started?
Meet with the Career Development Office to strengthen your resume, craft cover letters, and identify the best-fit opportunities aligned with their goals.