Volunteer

Three volunteers gathered around a table and talking
Three volunteers gathered around a table and talking

We welcome volunteers and interns and offer many opportunities to both students and adults in a variety of scientific and technical disciplines. 

Interns and volunteers are expected to maintain a consistent work schedule and to complete project assignments with minimum supervision. The Museum values intern and volunteer commitments and treats such commitments as suitable work resume experience. The Museum accepts college students (undergraduates and graduate students), adults in the workforce, seniors, and professionals looking to help the Mütter Museum. 

Volunteer Opportunities

  • Do you love the Mütter? Do you have a passion for medical history and public health education? Do you enjoy botany and medicinal plants? If you answered, “Yes,” consider becoming a Mütter Museum docent.

    Docents are dedicated volunteers who help us educate the public on subjects related to medical history; public health; contemporary medicine; anatomy, physiology, and pathology; and the unique collections of the Mütter Museum. We welcome interested people from a variety of fields. 
     
    Requirements:
    •    Friendly and outgoing with an interest in interacting with the public.
    •    A passion for learning and an interest in medicine or history.
    •    Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
    •    Aspiring docents must be at least 18 years of age. 
    •    We ask that aspiring docents commit to at least 4 hours a month. 

    Responsibilities:

    • Act as a representative of the Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, interacting with the public through pop-up lessons and tours.
    • Answer questions and offer quality customer service to Mütter Museum visitors.
    • Provide educational assistance during public and private events.
    • Attend docent events, training programs, and meetings as needed.
    • Interested docents can also work with Center for Education staff to develop pop-up lessons and CFE blog posts. 

    Docent Benefits:

    While docents are unpaid, they receive a host of benefits, including:

    • Free admission to the Mütter Museum 
    • Free Mütter Museum membership (after serving as a docent for at least four months)
    • A free Mütter Museum t-shirt 
    • 6 free passes to the Mütter Museum 
    • Discounts in the Mütter Museum Store 
    • Invitations to special events   

    People interested in becoming a Mütter Museum docent can send an email with the subject line “Mütter Museum Docent” to Amanda McCall, Museum Educator (amccall@collegeofphysicians.org). Explain in your email why you feel you are qualified for the position and what you hope to get out of being a docent along with a resume or CV. 

    Applications are now being accepted, apply today!

  • The Mütter Museum invites students and adults to volunteer and intern with its staff in working with our unique historical medical collections. We look for individuals who have an interest in medicine, science, and technology. Museum interns and volunteers assist with exhibit development, collections management, conservation, record keeping, collections housekeeping, collections environmental monitoring, and computerization/digitization of collections.

    Internship positions are currently filled. Check back later for more opportunities.

  • The Mütter Research Institute is the research arm of the Mütter Museum. It partners with other institutions with the goal of utilizing medical collections to conduct research relevant to 21st-century human health.

    Internship positions are currently filled. Check back later for more opportunities.

  • The Center for Education develops and implements programming that uses the many resources of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia and the Mütter Museum to educate and inform health professionals and the public. Our current programs include after-school and summer activities for high school students, group visits to the Mütter Museum for adults and students, and a variety of adult learning and arts activities.

    Internship positions are currently filled. Check back later for more opportunities.

  • The Historical Medical Library is also looking for interns and volunteers to work with staff to assist with various projects. Projects may include archival processing, research, collections digitization, or the creation of web pages. The Library seeks graduate students and adults with previous library or archival experience. Library interns and volunteers are accepted on a rolling basis.

    Internship positions are currently filled. Check back later for more opportunities.

Work with Us

The College of Physicians of Philadelphia and Mütter Museum is made up of over forty full and part-time employees. Want to join us? .