The Duke Cancer Patient Education Programs provides information throughout the cancer patient’s journey on prevention, early detection, disease specific cancers, treatments, side effects, research and clinical trials, complementary therapies, support, coping, emotional care, children’s concerns and end-of-life care.

The Resource Center is a lending library and resource center with books, video and audio tapes, periodicals, brochures, magazines and other written information.

The Resource Center is staffed by volunteers who respond to walk-in and telephone requests from patients and families, help locate books and brochures, conduct online literature searches, give directions, assemble patient notebooks, and provide an overview of the center.

Our goal is to help patients and families be well informed about their situation, make informed choices about their treatment and advocate for his or her self. Volunteers help patients and families cope by providing optimal customer service and nonjudgmental information.

We are located on level 0 of the Duke Cancer Center and are open Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

Application Process

• Volunteers complete the Duke Medicine Volunteer Application, which requires a background check, two references, health and drug screening and a personal interview.
• Attend Duke Volunteer Orientation, which includes information on Duke’s mission-values-goals, fire and safety training, and our confidentiality procedures. Training in the policies and procedures to be followed in the Resource Center will be provided in a separate session. 
• A commitment of four hours a week for a minimum of one year or two semesters is required. We are not open evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Volunteers should have adequate vision, hearing, speech, and mobility to work in an office environment, be able to unpack boxes of pamphlets and books, be computer literate and be fluent in English. 

For more information about becoming a resource center volunteer, contact Holly D'Addurno, MLS, Director, Duke Cancer Patient Education Program at 919-613-6275 or holly.daddurno@duke.edu.