Teen Volunteers are Shaping the Human Experience in Healthcare

This blog is part of a series on Teen/Youth Volunteer Programs in healthcare. See links at the bottom for other resources.

By Jill Hilliard, Volunteer Services Coordinator
Family Partners and Support Group
Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital 

Why Teen Voices Matter 

“I spent my 16th birthday in a hospital room. I remember scrolling through photos of my friends celebrating their own birthdays, dressed up amongst flowers and streamers, before eventually putting my phone down and looking around my own room. In that moment, I really felt the contrast between their “birthday rooms” and mine. That experience has stayed with me because it showed me how deeply the environment around a teen patient matters.”
~ Keira Crasta, Adolescents and Young Adults Council Member

Keira’s reflection captures the experience of many teenage patients. Those perspectives and ideas are full of potential, yet teen viewpoints can often be excluded from traditional advisory roles.  This gap can lead to policies, environments, and educational materials that miss the mark for teens navigating healthcare during a critical stage of life. 

But engaging teens isn’t just about asking for their input. Their time is valuable. When hospitals offer real opportunities for growth: mentorship, leadership, and the chance to see their ideas come to life, they gain not only honest feedback but genuine partnership. When teens are given something worth showing up for, they don’t just participate- they can transform the way healthcare listens, learns, and leads.  

Creating Meaningful Engagement Through Shared Value 

At our hospital, we’ve learned that the best way to engage teens is to invite them to think big. Instead of simply asking for feedback, we ask them to dream. Each teen applies with an Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) dream project, an idea they care deeply about and want to bring to life. If selected, they don’t just share it; they lead it. With guidance from staff, they design, build, and carry their project all the way through implementation. 

There’s something powerful about watching a teen go from “What if?” to “I did it!” Along the way, they learn how to collaborate, problem-solve, and communicate in a hospital setting. More importantly, they begin to see themselves differently, not as observers of the healthcare experience, but as people who can shape it. 

And once that shift happens, everything changes. Teens who have led their own projects step into larger roles with confidence. They join committees, review policies, and offer feedback with clarity and professionalism. What started as a single idea becomes something bigger: a sense of ownership, a trusted voice, and a seat at the table where their perspective truly matters. Teens begin to see themselves not just as participants, but as valued contributors. 

“I’ve contributed to projects like a journal designed to support teen mental health, collaborated with specialists to help eventually make patient records more language-accessible, and provided feedback that has been incorporated into educational books.”  
~ Keira 

Lasting Impact and a Better Future 

The impact of these teen projects is both visible and lasting. Teens have brought their ideas to life in ways that directly shape the patient experience:  

• Creating Hope and Care Journals for families and teens
• Organizing teen pajama and sensory toy drives
• Securing grant-funded video equipment
• Assembling emergency department care bags for teens
• Developing resources to support the transition to adult care. 

Teens have also participated in larger efforts like patient proms, hospital 5Ks, and family centered dinners that build connections and community. Each project meets a real need, but just as importantly, it creates growth on both sides. Many teens begin to see themselves in future healthcare roles.   

“Through AYA, I’ve been able to explore my interests in healthcare, advocacy, and education in a more hands-on way. Because of this, I’ve become especially interested in studying public health in college. AYA has given me a true sense of community, one where my ideas and experiences are not only heard but actively turned into meaningful change.”
~ Keira 

Hospitals benefit from solutions designed with teens, while teens gain confidence, leadership skills, and a deeper understanding of how healthcare works. When hospitals invest in teen voices, they don’t just shape better care today; they help grow the next generation of healers who will redefine it tomorrow. 

About the Author

Jill Hilliard serves as a Volunteer Coordinator at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and leads the Adult and Teen Patient and Family Advisory Councils with heart and purpose. She is deeply committed to advancing patient- and family-centered care, ensuring that both staff and families feel empowered through education and collaboration. Jill finds joy in mentoring teen patients – both current and former – as they grow into thoughtful advisors and creative innovators who help shape the hospital’s future. Her work reflects a belief that every voice matters, and that healing happens best when patients and families are active partners in care. Before joining Le Bonheur, Jill directed a local food pantry, an experience that deepened her empathy and strengthened her commitment to supporting individuals facing complex challenges. It continues to inform a compassionate approach in building strong and effective advisory councils at the hospital. 

Explore Other Resources on Teen Programs

Podcast: Turning Teen Volunteers into Healthcare Leaders – The Beryl Institute

Webinar: Engaging Children and Youth in Healthcare: A Developmental Approach – The Beryl Institute

Blog: Amplifying Youth Voices: The Importance of Direct Pediatric Patient Feedback – The Beryl Institute

Case Study: Modernizing Student Volunteering – The Beryl Institute