In 2024, Phoenix Children’s piloted the College Intensive Volunteer (CIV)
program, designed to provide college students with an accelerated and
impactful volunteer experience. Running across three quarters—fall, spring,
and summer—the program allows students to gain hands-on, meaningful
experience in a hospital setting while balancing their academic
commitments.
Throughout the fall and spring sessions, volunteers commit to two shifts per
week for 12 weeks, while the summer session runs for 8 weeks with three
shifts per week. Volunteers work 3–4-hour shifts, totaling 75-100 hours
throughout the program. This innovative approach resulted in 64
volunteers, contributing 5,835 hours and completing 1,540 shifts.
The CIV program not only ensured consistent coverage throughout the
year but also provided college students with a unique opportunity to
volunteer within a flexible timeframe, helping them integrate community
service into their busy schedules. In addition to volunteering, CIV
participants take part in educational sessions such as “A Look Inside”,
which offers exclusive insights into various medical fields. In 2024,
volunteers had the chance to interact with the Orthopedics team in a
hands-on experience called “A Tour of the OR”, where they learned how
to scrub in, suit up, and observe a mock knee surgery.
At the end of the program, each CIV writes an essay reflecting on their
experience, providing a personal and profound account of how the program
impacted their lives and careers. This opportunity not only enriched the
lives of the volunteers but also enhanced Phoenix Children’s ability to
provide exceptional care and service to our community.
We look forward to continuing this program in the future, empowering
students and enriching the work we do at Phoenix Children’s!
