VolunTeen Program

at SSM Health Southern Illinois

Volunteen program is an entry-level volunteer program for high school students who want to learn about the healthcare field and be exposed to the many opportunities it has to offer. Students can choose from various areas within the hospital, both clinical and non-clinical, and assist our team members in caring for our patients and community. Minimum requirements to participate is that students volunteer 2 days a week for 4-hour shifts during their summer break at the location which best fits the career interest indicated in their application.

Application Information

Applications open February 2nd - April 24th, 2026
Students will receive an email stating whether they were accepted into the program by May 18th, 2026
Program runs June 2nd - July 10th, 2026

Apply for the 2026 VolunTeen program.

For more information or to get a paper copy application contact SSM Health Southern Illinois Human Resources at 618-899-1066 or email volunteen.support@ssmhealth.com .

Real Stories

From Volunteen Participants

Hear from students who gained hands-on experience while exploring career paths in healthcare. These volunteers share how this opportunity opened doors for their future.

Hear from our Volunteers

Volunteen experience offers many benefits to the student:

Exposure to the hospital setting and the careers it can provide.
Experience working in a professional setting.
Opportunity to serve our community.
Great reference for college applications.
Invaluable experiences that can shape their futures.
College credit and scholarship opportunities.

VolunTeen Department Opportunities

Administration (Hospital management of operations and strategies)
Cardiology/Cardiac Rehab (Diagnostic Testing/Therapy for the Cardiac Patient)
Critical Care (Intensive care for seriously ill patients)
Dietary (Specially designed meal plan for patients)
Emergency Care (Immediate care for serious conditions and injuries)
Express Care (Immediate care for mild illness or injury)
Imaging (Use of technology to view the body for diagnosing and treatment)
Labor & Delivery (Specialized department for childbirth and treatment)
Laboratory (Testing of patient samples for diagnosing and treatment)
Neurology/Sleep (Diagnose and treat sleep disorders)
Patient Care Units (Monitoring and treatment of admitted patients i.e. ED, Med Surg. ICU)
Plant Operations (Maintain and repair electrical, plumbing, and HVAC equipment)
Podiatry (Diagnose and treatment of ailments to the feet)
Rehabilitation (Help patients in recovery-Physical and Occupational, and Speech therapy)
Respiratory (Medical treatment focusing on breathing issues)
Security (Protection of facility, patients, staff, and visitors)
Surgery (Procedure to repair the body)
Vascular Care (Treatment of blood vessels and vascular system issues)
IT (Manages technology systems to support patient care, data security, and operational efficiency)
Foundation (Fundraising operations, strategies, and management of donations)
Pharmacy (Prepares and checks medications and medication orders, works with providers to ensure patients on appropriate medications)