The Patient Care Advocate Team program is offered jointly by Cayuga Medical Center, Cayuga Emergency Physicians, Cornell Public Service Center, and Ithaca College's Center for Civic Engagement. It is a distinguished and unique integrated program combining volunteering experience with structured learning and leadership development through social justice lenses for college students.
Participants in the program volunteer at Cayuga Medical Center, in the In-Patient Unit. The Program is designed to introduce volunteers to the importance of patient comfort and advocacy, and to support the medical staff in providing these measures to patients. The PCAT volunteer plays the role of customer service representative for the hospital and rounds on patients regularly; while gaining hands-on experience at the hospital. Students will have structured opportunities to reflect on their experience, develop their social justice leadership skills and philosophies, and challenge their understanding of the complex social issues surrounding health care policy, and practices.
Students accepted into the PCAT program will gain:
- Real-world hospital and patient-care experience
- Leadership development training through required seminars
- Career exploration related to public health, non-profit and customer service work
Students accepted to this program are expected to:
- Volunteer for two shifts per week in the In-Patient Units. The shift length (will be between 2 hours)
- Attend mandatory leadership development seminars Submit minimum of 3 reflective writings Submit the final reflection assignment
- Arrange their own transportation to get to Cayuga Medical Center for shifts
- Arrange their own transportation to get to Ithaca College and Cornell University for seminars
- Maintain professionalism and respect in the work place and seminar discussion
Applications can be found here, and are due August 25th.
Please contact David Harker (dharker@ithaca.edu) with any questions or concerns.
