The Patient Advocacy Volunteer Program in Emergency Room Services (PAVERS) program offered by the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine is a patient advocacy volunteer program. Our program offers students the opportunity to gain patient interaction experience and learn about medicine through emergency department (ED) observation, approved structured tasks, and a series of monthly lectures. Participants rotate through the following clinical areas of the ED at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, Tisch Hospital or NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn: adult emergency services, pediatric emergency services, and urgent care. Note, shifts vary by location and are subject to change with the exception of adult emergency services. During these rotations, participants assist patients as well as NYU Langone and Bellevue physicians, nurses, and staff. The cornerstone of our program is patient advocacy, and as such, participants should expect to spend the majority of their time interacting with and supporting patients.

Program Requirements

Students must volunteer for a minimum of one academic year (two semesters). The program does not take place during the summer. Students are expected to complete two four-hour shifts per week and attend one three-hour meeting per month. To accommodate undergraduate schedules, monthly meetings typically occur on Fridays (late mornings or early afternoons).

In general, shifts are available 7 days a week as follows: 8:00AM to 12:00PM, 12:00PM to 4:00PM, 4:00PM to 8:00PM, and 8:00PM to 12:00AM.

Shifts are set as standing schedules, which students keep for the duration of the semester. Students can choose the shifts they prefer on the basis of their availability, but they must be free to attend the monthly Friday meetings. In addition to clinical duties, PAVERS volunteers may have the opportunity to assist with several health equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives, which include helping patients gain access to social determinants of health resources, to vaccinations, and to enroll in MyChart. When applying, PAVERS volunteers should select which campus in which they would like to volunteer: Bellevue Hospital, Tisch Hospital, or NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn. Note, volunteers may only volunteer at one location for the entirety of the semester.

How to Apply

Learn more about Patient Advocacy Volunteer Program in Emergency Room Services application materials and timeline.