Emergency Department SUPPORT Ambassadors

Ambassadors for the SUPPORT Clinical Research Training Program function as specialized hospital volunteers. Ambassadors will be trained to help screen and enroll eligible patients into several clinical research studies that are currently recruiting in the CHEO Emergency Department (ED). The specific goals of this initiative are to facilitate and support research and quality improvement activities involving patients in the ED.

Following a virtual interview, those applicants who are successful/selected to participate in the program will be asked to provide their availability for the session. Based on their availability, selected volunteers will be assigned ONE, 4-hour shift per week (see shift times below).

The SUPPORT Ambassador Program operates 7 days per week. Shifts are scheduled as follows:

• 10 am – 2 pm
• 2 pm – 6 pm
• 6 pm – 10 pm 

As a SUPPORT Ambassador, you will be scanning the ED patient tracking system to capture possible patients for several clinical studies. This will entail determining eligibility of patients for the various studies and interacting with families and/or clinical staff. Given the emphasis on patient interaction, it is very important that applicants feel comfortable speaking to and interacting with patients from birth to 18 years of age as well as their family members. This position does not entail any data entry or writing of research proposals/papers. SUPPORT Ambassadors may often be responsible for determining a patient’s willingness to discuss participating in a study with a research assistant and completing the screening process by documenting activities on a screening log. Importantly, you will be liaising closely with the program coordinator who is committed to educating the SUPPORT Ambassadors and ensuring a high performance standard.

Prior to beginning their role in the Emergency Department, all selected SUPPORT Ambassadors must:

• Commit to their volunteer role for the duration of the session.
  
• Meet CHEO’s occupational health and safety requirements (proof of two-step TB test & up to date immunizations/serology including a minimum of 2 valid doses of a COVID-19 vaccine is required).
  
• Submit a Level 2 Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (completed within the last 6 months).
  
• Please note that reimbursement for expenses related to clinic visits/document completion/TB testing/immunizations/police record checks is not possible. Immunizations cannot be completed at CHEO.
  
• Attend the mandatory program orientation session  to be held IN PERSON AT CHEO.

*Applicants who are selected for a position following a virtual interview must provide proof of vaccination/serology results no later than the first day of the session in order to be eligible to participate in the program.*

Current registered students or recently graduated students (less than 12 months) from an accredited post-secondary program (e.g. undergraduate, graduate, or nursing school) are eligible for this training program. No previous formal research training is necessary. International Medical Graduates are not eligible to apply for this program.

Qualifications:

To be considered for the position, you should possess:

• Excellent attention to detail and efficient time management skills
• Strong communication, interpersonal and organizational skills
• Ability to be self-directed, resourceful, flexible, and take initiative
• Be comfortable working independently or as part of a team
• Previous customer service skills and/or experience working with the general public is an asset

This is a volunteer opportunity. At the end of your session, you will receive an official certificate of participation (if you have remained in good standing with the program). Please note that we are happy to provide confirmation of participation in this initiative (i.e., verification of program participation), however, we are unable to write letters of reference due to the number of program participants both past and present.

This position primarily provides the opportunity to learn about the practicality of conducting research in a clinical setting. CHEO’s Emergency Department has an international reputation for high-quality clinical research. You will gain valuable experience communicating with patients and their families in the ED. 

Please note that we have taken and will continue to take every precaution in order to keep SUPPORT Ambassadors, research/clinical staff and patients/families safe.  SUPPORT Ambassadors will have access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and will be required to wear a procedure mask at all times when interacting with patients/families and circulating throughout the Emergency Department.  CHEO has also implemented a Universal COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. Volunteers must  be fully vaccinated (minimum of 2 doses) and are  required to report proof of all doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to the Program Coordinator. Volunteers are required to complete a screening questionnaire should they be experiencing signs and symptoms of illness. This screening tool will indicate how to proceed. In the event that a volunteer is symptomatic, he/she/they will be restricted from volunteering at CHEO for a specified period of time until Occupational Health and Safety deems that it is safe to return.

Applications for the September 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026  session are no longer being accepted.

If you are interested in applying for the May – August 2026 session and are able to fully commit to volunteering one, 4-hour shift per week for the duration of the session, please revisit the website in March 2026 for updated application information.

Thank you for your interest in the CHEO ED SUPPORT Ambassador Program. For program inquiries, please contact the Program Coordinator (Recruitment and Onboarding), Jessica Paul, at [email protected].