Community involvement

Get Involved

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HAVEN Free Clinic relies on the dedication of volunteers to provide free, high-quality healthcare to uninsured adults in Greater New Haven. Whether you're a healthcare professional, a student, or simply someone who wants to help, there's a place for you at HAVEN.

Fall Volunteer Recruitment 2026

Applications for Fall 2026 volunteer positions are now open. We welcome students across all health professions programs, graduate students, and community members who want to serve uninsured adults in Greater New Haven alongside our student-run team.

Applications due Saturday, September 12th, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT. Questions? Email us at hfc.recruitment@yale.edu

Ways to Volunteer

Our volunteers contribute across a wide range of areas to keep the clinic running and our patients cared for.

Clinical Care

Assist with patient intake, health screenings, and clinical support under the guidance of licensed professionals.

Interpretation

Help bridge language barriers for our diverse patient population. Spanish speakers are especially needed.

Operations

Support day-to-day clinic operations including scheduling, data entry, and administrative tasks.

Social Services

Connect patients with community resources, assist with insurance navigation, and provide wellness education.

Our Volunteer Community

HAVEN is entirely student-run, powered each Saturday by a carefully selected team of volunteers. In any given term, we receive over 750 applications, and we take the time to review each one. Those selected are paired intentionally based on their skills, background, and the needs of our clinic, with support and coordination that extends well beyond initial training.

What We Look For

  • Commitment and reliability
  • Passion for serving underserved communities
  • Teamwork and communication
  • Spanish language skills are a valued asset

Who Volunteers With Us

Our team includes medical, nursing, public health, and pre-health students, graduate students, and non-clinical volunteers in administrative and support roles. On a case-by-case basis, we also welcome community providers who wish to contribute their expertise directly to patient care.

Clinical Supervision

Every clinical encounter at HAVEN is supervised by licensed attending physicians and registered nurses who volunteer their time to our clinic. Our Saturday clinics in primary care and reproductive health are staffed by faculty attendings, alongside RNs and specialty clinic preceptors. They are all community providers who believe in this mission. Their oversight ensures every patient receives safe, professional-standard care.

Recruitment Timeline

Because of the volume and care involved in our selection process, recruitment follows a structured timeline each term:

August

Applications open for the upcoming fall term.

Review Period

Our team carefully reviews every application and conducts intentional pairing based on skills, availability, and clinic needs.

Offers & Onboarding

Selected volunteers are notified and begin training and orientation before their first shift.

We ask that all applicants please be patient during this process. With 750+ applications to review, we give every candidate the thoughtful consideration they deserve, and that takes time. We appreciate your understanding and your interest in HAVEN’s mission. We continue to review applications on a rolling basis even after training begins, so if you do not hear from us right away, your application remains under consideration.

Interested in volunteering? Applications for our Fall 2026 cycle are open now and close Saturday, September 12th, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT.

Professional Volunteers

Professional volunteers act as volunteer attending clinicians at HAVEN, and are integral to the function and success of the clinic. Faculty preceptors guide teams of students in the evaluation and treatment of patients, giving them an opportunity to mentor students across the disciplines of medicine.

In order to become a medical preceptor at the HAVEN Free Clinic, we ask that you complete a credentialing and privileging process, and provide a recommendation from a current Yale faculty member. If necessary, we will work with you to find a Yale faculty member that can provide a recommendation on your behalf.

Other Ways to Support HAVEN

Make a Donation

Donations pay for our patients' medications, lab tests, and specialist visits. Gifts are made through Yale and designated to HAVEN.

Donate Now

Spread the Word

Share information about HAVEN with friends, family, and your community. Help us reach more patients and potential volunteers who can benefit from our services.

Refer a Patient

Know someone who is uninsured and needs primary care? Let them know about HAVEN. Call us at (203) 200-0673 to schedule an appointment.

HAVEN Free Clinic 5K event

Thank you for your support at the 11th Annual HAVEN Free Clinic 5K!

With the help of our volunteers, sponsors, and donors we raised over $61,598 for the clinic!

100% of the proceeds will go towards patient care.