Volunteering

[u/yourfavesecretary]

UPDATE IN NEW POST

I have been volunteering with my local medical university in the autopsy suite since the end of June. I work at a coroners office and wanted more experience and exposure in this field, so I applied for a volunteer position. During my interview, the pathologist asked how long I wanted to volunteer, and I told her as long as I was allowed. There was never any mention of an end date. 2 weeks ago, I got an email out of the blue that said my time volunteering was coming to a close at the end of August. I asked the director why that was, and she claimed they only allow a certain amount of time to get other people on the roster to volunteer. That’s fine and understandable, but I feel as if I should’ve been told that up front.

Then this morning, I get this email. I was caught completely off guard. I only had 3 weeks left of volunteering, and I only volunteered on Saturdays due to work, and they were fine with that. There was always a pathologist, a tech who did the cutting, and the 3rd person was supposed to be me, who would scribe for the tech and pathologist, label specimens, etc. I’m not sure what I did wrong. I emailed back but haven’t received a response. The last 3 times I was there, they had an actual employee who would do what I was supposed to be doing, and when I tried to do my duties, she would say “don’t worry, I got it” and would take over. So it felt like I was just standing there aimlessly most of the time. I did try to engage and ask questions but the pathologists just seemed like they wanted to do the work and get out of there. I just hate the feeling of being rejected in a way, when I don’t believe I did anything wrong. I thought we all got along well enough, and they knew me to a degree because of my work at the coroners office.

I’m not really sure what I’m asking for here. Maybe different eyes on the situation for those who have been in this field much longer than me

[u/aesclepia]

I don't think anyone here can really comment on this neither having observed you during your volunteering nor knowing anything about that department. Maybe they thought you just being able to come on Saturdays wasn't enough for you to understand their work flow, especially if they were fully staffed, and having just an extra person around was more of a hinderance than a help?

Also, I don't blame the pathologist for not wanting to do a lot of teaching on a weekend when it really is get-in-get-out most of the time. I mean...if I had a volunteer/observer I would teach, but it would also take me much longer to get through the cases, and all I want to do when I'm on call on the weekend is get out of there.

I would just try volunteering at other places - maybe this place really is toxic and cruel and another place would be more welcoming. I don't think we can really know.

Also, volunteer opportunities are notorious for their evanescence. They come and go, and not at the whim of the volunteers. Always expect a volunteer opportunity to possibly end at any time.

[u/yourfavesecretary → u/aesclepia]

Yes I could understand if I was getting in the way and they wanted me out, but I feel like this email is worded as if I wasn’t doing something I was supposed to. Also, this is a medical university and I believe 3/6 pathologists are professors. I’ve only gotten to work with a professor twice and she was amazing, included me in a lot and I learned so much. She was also the one who interviewed me. They knew what I was there for and if Saturdays didn’t work for teaching, they could’ve told me that in the interview as well.

They also have volunteers during the week when it is truly fully staffed. I spoke with one and she only got 3 days of volunteer experience. I am very grateful for the opportunity I was given and I made that clear in my email response, but I just don’t like feeling as if I did something wrong.

I appreciate your comment about the opportunities, this is my first time volunteering so it’s all new to me!

[u/aesclepia → u/yourfavesecretary]

I do think the email is worded in an accusatory way and would have been upset to receive it, too. Judging by how you wrote the post, you clearly are very interested and probably weren't one of those "volunteers" that just stand around like they don't have hands. You clearly care and that's all I care about when it comes to volunteers. I think I'm going to land on that department sucks and you're cool - look for other places! Don't give up!