Every year, Aultman Alliance Community Hospital (AACH) welcomes students ages 16 and up to volunteer during their summer break. The program provides invaluable experience, particularly for students interested in medical careers.

Miami University (Ohio) student Maxwell Held volunteered in the Emergency Department at AACH this summer because he is interested in becoming an orthopedic surgeon. Here, he reflects on his experiences in the program.

What are your interests and involvement at school?

I am a member of the Pickleball Club, I serve as a financial assistant on the board for the Anatomy and Physiology Club, and I founded and lead the Fishing Club at Miami.

What motivated you to volunteer in the summer program at Aultman Alliance Community Hospital?

I wanted to be able to help my community as well as gain valuable experience in working in a hospital setting.

Describe a typical day of volunteering.

In the ER, I stock linens as well as other supplies, help clean rooms after patients are discharged and assist in as many ways as I can in other areas of the ER.

What do you like best about volunteering?

I love the feeling of knowing that I am benefiting the community in a positive way and I love interacting with patients.

What are the most important things you’ve learned from this experience?

Volunteering has helped me with efficiency and punctuality. It has also shown me how to put the needs of others before myself.

How do you plan to use what you learned from this experience in the future?

My dream is to be an orthopedic surgeon, and there are so many valuable things that I have learned from my experiences here. What stands out the most is how important patient interaction is and how to make sure patients have the best experience possible.

Applications for the annual Aultman Alliance Community Hospital summer volunteer program are accepted beginning in mid-March and are due in mid-May of each year.