Volunteers play a vital role in the OHSU Transgender Health Program. They offer support, education and perspective. They help shape our program. They also gain the chance to build connections, to support the gender-diverse community, and to help us increase access to inclusive health care.

As a volunteer, your duties may include:

• Supporting patients, prospective patients and their allies.
• Going with patients to appointments.
• Providing information.
• Attending community events to promote THP services and to help people get care.
• Conducting training sessions for health care professionals.
• Helping to develop our policies and programs.

Jump to: 

• Community Advisory Board
• Volunteer to be an educator/advocate
• Volunteer for the Social Connection Project

Benefits for you

Besides the chance to support the transgender and gender-nonconforming communities, volunteering with our program can help you:

• Improve your employment opportunities by giving you job experience, by building your skills and by enhancing your resume.
• Expand your circle of friends, allies and contacts.
• Share your experiences with someone on a similar path.
• Shape and improve the Transgender Health Program.

Time commitment

Activities: Most Transgender Health Program volunteer work is done during weekday business hours. On occasion, you may be needed on an evening or weekend.

Meetings: You are expected to attend a meeting on the second Friday of each month from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Length of service: You must commit to six months or 72 hours of service. OHSU employees and students are exempt from the minimum time commitment.

How to enroll

1. Fill out our interest questionnaire.
2. You must also enroll through OHSU’s Health Care Volunteer Services and participate in onboarding and orientation activities.

Learn more

See upcoming volunteer and community meetings

Community Advisory Board

This volunteer group is made up of:

• Transgender and gender-nonbinary people who have received services through the Transgender Health Program in the past three years.
• People who represent communities we serve.
• People in the above categories who can help us build a board with a diversity of ages, incomes, gender identities, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations and abilities.

The board meets each quarter. It helps us advance our mission by providing ideas and feedback on:

• Improving our services and operations.
• How we work with the community.
• Deciding on current and future services.

Learn more and let us know you are interested in joining the CAB.

Volunteer to be an educator/advocate

We are looking for volunteers to help transgender and gender-nonconforming patients, prospective patients and their families with:

• Information
• Support during OHSU visits, including as part of our Here4You program for surgery patients

These volunteers will also help develop and provide transgender awareness training and patient education classes. They may attend community events to promote OHSU transgender services.

Read the full description: THP Educator/Advocate

Volunteer for the THP Social Connection Project

Join our volunteer-led effort to increase social connections for people in the transgender/nonbinary community who feel isolated. The program offers regular phone check-ins and connections to resources.

Volunteers:

• Complete a 90-minute orientation and training session.
• Are matched with a participant.
• Call the participant once or twice a month for a friendly 30- to 45-minute social call.

This is not a crisis hotline. Volunteers will not give medical advice. They will be trained to connect participants with THP staff members and/or community resources.

Interested? Contact us at transhealth@ohsu.edu or 503-494-7970.