Research, Jobs, Volunteer Experiences at Notre Dame and in the South Bend Community

Before you commit yourself to a career in one of the health professions, make sure you thoroughly investigate the profession first. We strongly urge you to get as much exposure as possible to different aspects in the field of medicine. This can be done by volunteering, working, shadowing or interning at a health care facility: observe a Physical Therapist, shadow a doctor in the ER, sit at the nurses station, visit in the budget office, or volunteer at the hospice or chaplain's office. It takes many different jobs to create a health care system. As a health care provider, you will interact with each department.

Medical and other professional schools also want to see your interest in serving people. This can be accomplished in a variety of different ways that are not necessarily medical in nature, but demonstrate your desire to serve. (Ex: soup kitchens, big brother/big sister programs, special olympics, tutoring...)

For students applying to veterinary school, admissions officers like to see between 1,000- 1,500 hrs. of hands on, documented experience with animals. Please refer to the ND Veterinary home page for more information about local opportunities.

American Red Cross:
Community Volunteer Services plans, programs, recruits, trains and places volunteers to meet community needs through communitiy education and emergency services. Contact: Jeannette Simon at 234-0191 ext. 21.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America:

Volunteer as a friend to a child or a teenager in St. Joseph County. Students can make a contribution by spending time with the children and, in doing so, acting as a role model for future generations. Call (574) 232-9958 to explore the volunteer opportunities.

C.A.S.H. (Community Alliance to Serve Hispanics):
The Community Alliance to Serve Hispanics is a group that organizes Notre Dame and St. Mary's students who wish to volunteer at organizations targeting Hispanic populations in the South Bend area and/or work in other areas involving the Spanish language and Hispanic culture. Visit there web site for more information.

Programs: (Click links for more info)

La Casa de Amistad

Indiana Health Center

Memorial Hospital

St. Casmir's GED Program

St. Adalbert's Elementary School

Robinson Community Learning Center (RCLC)

Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC)

Spanish/English Exchange between Students and Employees

Riley High School

Center for Social Concerns:
The Center for Social Concerns offers many volunteer opportunities for credit throughout the year, over the summers or breaks. Some seminars are medical in nature so ask for more information! They also have vans that can be checked out to transport you to your local volunteer site.

Catholic Charities:
Operating under the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Catholic Charities is a voluntary, church-related, community serving agency that provides assistance to all individuals. Their services include: adoption agencies, nurseries, pregnancy and marriage counseling, grief and loss programs, parent education, refugee resettlement and job placement. To volunteer at one of their many locations throughout the Mishawaka area, contact the Western Region Service Center, located at 1817 Miami Street in South Bend, at 234-3111 or 800-686-3112.

Chiara Homes - Respite Care:
This service provides care to those people with special needs, defined as a developmental disability and/or mental disorder. Chiara Homes strives to undertake activities that will promote both a gentle and comfortable atmposphere so that all persons may experience a place of rest and a time of total acceptance. Volunteers give an hour or two a week, cook an occasional meal, donate some time to help make candy, offer to clean the yard, or donate a service that they may have unique access to. The office is located on 1105 West Jefferson Blvd. in South Bend. Call Sister Grethen at (219) 287-5435 for an interview.

El Campito:
This service is a day-care center for underprivelaged children in the area. Their center is located at 1024 W. Thomas Street in South Bend. Call 232-0220 for volunteer information.

Emergency Department at Elkhart General Hospital:
Students fulfill the duties of talking with patients about their care, matching them up with patients, and keeping all parties informed. They act as a liaison between patients and staff and patients and their loved ones in the waiting room. Spanish speaking students are needed, but all may apply. There are as many as 9 positions during the academic year and 2-4 during the summer, all paid positions. Contact Jean Van Putten, Community Case Manager, at (574) 523-3482.

First Steps:
The First Steps System provides early intervention services to infants and young children with disabilities or who are experiencing developmental delays. Average time commitment is four hours per week each semester. For information

Food Bank of Northern Indiana:
Salvage/Reclamation-Sorting, separating, and organizing food products that are canned, boxed or bottled. Pantry Repection/Stocker stocks the pantry shelves and assists customers with their shopping. Contact: Robin Fuller at 232-9986

Harbor Light Hospice:
This hospice serves the community of Merrillville, Indiana by providing terminally ill individuals and their loved one with a specialized program of care and support. Volunteers are trained to use a team approach in offering patients medical, physical, emotional and spiritual support. Harbor Light Hospice has volunteer positions available to fit individual personalities, expertise, and schedules. Choose from the following or create your own special way of helping: patient/family visits, grief/bereavement work, marketing/public relations, household errands/handyman, office/clerical assistance, nursing home activities, or volunteer program assistant. Located at 500 W. Lincoln Highway, Suite F. Contact Natalie Jacquez, the volunteer coordinator at 800-237-4242.

Healthwin Specialized Care:
Volunteers work one on one with residents, reading, socializing, spending time outdoors, pushing residents to and from activities, and assisting Activity Staff with group activities or outing into the community. Contact: Activities Director Lori Miller at 272-0100 ext. 204.

Hospice of St. Joseph's County:
This hospice, located in Roseland, serves the terminally ill community of South Bend. The volunteers of the hospice house visit about two hours a week to assist the nurses and patients. For further information, contact student coordinator Annie Vogel.

HUGS (Helpful Undergraduate Students):
HUGS provides undergraduates with the opportunity to volunteer at Memorial Hospital ( 2 or more hours per week) in Pediatrics and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Students rock, hold, feed and play with ill children. For more information, please contact the 2005-06 club president, Jennifer Sarna or Jennifer Tonkovich at Memorial Hospital.

Indiana Health Center:
Opportunities are available to students fluent in Spanish to translate for patients. The center is located at 1901 W Western Ave in South Bend. Call 234-9033 for more information.

La Casa de Amistad:
This Hispanic community center in South Bend provides outreach and educational programs for all ages. Programs include: translating services for people in the hospital or going to see the doctor, ESL tutoring, food and clothing banks, GED job training programs, blood pressure and blood sugar screening, etc. Contact Olga Larimer at 233-2130.

Life Treatment Center:
The Center is a rehabilitation center assisting patients who have substance and chemical dependence problems. Provides detoxification services, intensive day and evening treatment programs, and case management services. Located at 1402 S. Michigan Street in South Bend. Also, their transitional and halfway houses are located in three houses in the South Bend community. Director: Bela Z. Szalay. To volunteer, call (574) 233-5433 or1-888-411-5433.

Logan Center:
The Logan Center is the principal area provider of programs and services in St. Joseph County for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Average time commitment is four hours per week each semester. Contact volunteer coordinator Marissa Runkle. And for information regarding academic credit, contact the Government Internship Coordinator Carolina Arroy at 631-8248 or via email.

Lunch P.A.C.K (People Actively Communicating with South Bend Kids):
This is an organization in its second year of service to the South Bend community. They work specifically with children who do not receive the personal attention and care from their homes and neighborhoods. Volunteers are asked to spend approximately 1.5 hours or more per week talking to and playing games with children at Harrison, Madison, and Perley elementary schools. Times are Monday through Friday, both lunch (10:30-11:20, 11:05-12:15, 12:00-1:00) and after-school (2:00-3:15, 3:15-4:30) and are flexible. Transportation is provided, if necessary. For more information, email the student coordinator: Dana Cullen

Madison Center and Hospital Services
Offers a full-range of community-based programming for persons of all ages. A continuum of mental health programs for adults, children, adolescents, and older adults. Examples of specific programs are drugs and alcohol addition programs, sex offense services, crisis response team, continual education, and business services. Located at 403 East Madision Street South Bend, IN. Call 574-234-0061 or toll free 877-234-0061 for more volunteer information.

Memorial Hospital:
This hospital offers a variety of volunteer opportunities, including the Emergency Room, Pediatric Intensive Care, and Play Pals. Hours are flexible. Contact the Auxiliary Office at 284-3610.

Memorial Hospital Medical Explorers Program:
This unique, interactive program provides an opportunity for medically minded students to interact, shadow and observe health professionals in a hospital setting. Students will receive a well-rounded exposure to many aspects of medicine from the emergency room to family practice; from ambulance riding to evening rounds with the nursing staff; and from laser surgery to neonatal pediatrics.

This program is limited to 20 Notre Dame sophomores, juniors or seniors who commit to volunteer at least 3 hours per week or 6 hours every other week. Selection is competitive. Students will be selected who demonstrate the potential for success in the program.

For more information, please contact Dean Jennifer Nemecek.

Minority Health Coalition:
This office works closely with the Chapin Street Clinic to educate the minority community about health-related services and programs. Some of the programs they provide for the community are: blood pressure screenings, administration of flu shots, home visits, free exercise classes and educational programs. Average time commitment is four hours per semester. Contact Executive Director Cheryl Anderson at 239-5290. For information regarding academic credit, please contact the Government Internship Coordinator Carolina Arroyo at 631-8248 or via email.

ND First Aid Services Team
Volunteers provide coverage for inter-hall sports, concerts, home football games, AnTostal, Keenan Review, campus runs, and any other ND/SMC activity that requests the team's service. Student contact: Michael Ude at mude@nd.edu or visit their web site.

Potawatomi Zoo:
The zoo in South Bend has many opportunities for students to volunteer or be interns. Located just 10 minutes from campus. Contact: Jason Jacobs at 288-4639. Relevant for those interested in veterinary medicine.

Refugee and Immigration Services:
Located at 711 E. Colfax in South Bend. The director is Sandra K. Stratton. To volunteer, call 574-246-9209 or email refugee@michiana.org

Research at the University of Notre Dame:
The Thomas G. Reich Endowment for Excellence in Patient Care has been established to promote research in improving the Doctor-Patient Relationship. Stipends are available to support undergraduate research projects during the academic year and summer session. Interested individuals should contact Rudolph M. Navari, M.D. (574- 631-3793 navari.1@nd.edu).

Science Preprofessional Shadowing Program:
SCPP maintains a list of area doctors who would be willing to have a student shadow them. Contact Mary Filbert in 239 Nieuwland Science at 631-6675.

S-O-S of Madison Center:
The S-O-S advocates work with victims of sexual and domestic violence and their significant others, both over the phone and in person at area hospitals. The advocates provide victims with emotional support, information, and crisis interventions. Students are asked to commit at least six hours a week on-call and undergo thirty-three hours of training. Director: Laurel Eslinger. Community outreach coordinator: Mary Waggoner. To become an advocate, call S-O-S at 574-283-1308 or email sos1@madison.org.

St. Joseph's Chapin Street Clinic:
Chapin Street Clinic provides primary health services to individuals who do not qualify for Medicaid, Medicare, do not have health insurance and cannot afford private health care. The majority of the care is provided by physicians and nurses from the community who volunteer their time (usually on their days off). The Clinic does maintain a core staff of physicians, nurses, social worker, case manager, pharmacist and receptionist. Contact club co-chairs:Allison Troy or Philip Tribble.

St. Joseph County Humane Society:
This non-profit organization is looking for animal lovers to help with a vareity of things at their shelter. Call 574-255-4726 for more information. The volunteer program is on hold for now, but call and see what's available. Located on 2506 Grape Road in Mishawaka.

St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center:
Listed below are some of the volunteer opportunities available at St. Joseph's Hospital: visit patients, pass out food trays, deliver water, run errands for patients and staff, visit patients, work with Recreational Therapists, assist in the Radiology lab, etc. Hours are flexible. For more information, call Ms. Kapsa in the Volunteer Office, 237-7242.

SuperSibs:
All club members have siblings with disabilities. College sibs mentor children (8-14 yrs.) who also have a sibling with a disability. Bimonthly activities include bowling, skating, holiday parties, and pizza and chat sessions. Student contact: Michael Coogan at mcoogan@nd.edu or visit their web site.

United Health Services:
This United Way-associated program coordinates services of the Open Door Program, the Cancer Society, the Diabetes Association, and the Hearing and Speech Center. Located on 711 East Colfax Avenue in South Bend. Contact Deb Leyes. Phone 574-234-3136.

Walther Cancer Institute:
Research opportunities are available throughout the year with Dr. Rudolph Navari, 631-3793. Dr. Navari is particularly interested in medical ethics and the doctor patient relationship.

Women's Care Center:
This non-profit service agency has seven offices in South Bend, Mishawaka, Plymouth, and Bremen. It offers counseling for young women worried about problem pregnancies. Free services include giving pregnancy tests, listening to concerns and offer solutions, making doctor appointments, giving out maternity clothes, baby clothes and supplies, receiving assistance from community agencies, and finding housing. To volunteer, contact the 24-hour hotline at 574-234-0363.

Jennifer Ely Nemecek / Assistant Dean, Advisor for ALPP
jennifer.e.nemecek.1@nd.edu
James K. Foster, CSC, MD / Assistant Professional Specialist and
Sophomore Advisor for SCPP
james.k.foster.34@nd.edu
Last updated 11/10/05		 Back to Prehealth Home