Duke Patient Advocate Leaders (PALS) are Duke pre-health student leaders who mentor other students in addition to volunteering at Duke University Hospital.

Eligibility Requirements

Duke students must have 90 current hours of volunteering at Duke University Hospital (DUH) to apply to the Duke PALS program, and must also have a very strong positive recommendation from their current volunteer coordinator.

Volunteer hours at DUH must be continuous and current in order to apply.

Volunteer Responsibilities

PALS have mentoring responsibilities, program responsibilities, volunteering responsibilities, and each PAL provides four additional hours of service per semester to assist in the operations of the DUH Volunteer Services office.

PALS also assist at annual events, including the annual volunteer banquet and pre-health student training each year.

Application Information

PALS commit to one full year of serving as a PAL and may reapply in future years. Please only apply as a PAL if you are certain that your busy schedule will not preclude you from fulfilling your PALS responsibilities, especially if you are a Duke senior.

Duke students apply in May to be PALS for the following full academic year.

Applications are only available from May 1 to May 31 of each year for the following academic year.

Please contact Heidi Sullivan, manager of Volunteer Services, at heidi.sullivan@duke.edu or 919-681-6088 to apply.