This program brings recovered heart patients and family members of heart patients together with current patients at Duke Heart Center who are undergoing diagnosis and treatment.

Please note that this program is for volunteers who are at least one year post-recovery from the completion of their own treatment.

Through this interaction, volunteers share insights from their own patient experience in a manner that is reassuring to current patients. Volunteers do not offer medical advice. They offer emotional support and reassurance, along with various other services to the patient and to the family.

Opportunities

• 3200 Waiting Areas
• Inpatient Care and Waiting Areas
• Outpatient Cardiac Cath Waiting Area
• Cardiology Clinic
• Heart Station

Volunteers help provide these services:

• Volunteer visitation
• Information on hospital and community resources
• The Reading Room for patients and families
• Music and movies

Training Provided

• Fire and safety training
• Job-specific training one-on-one with staff
• Shadowing a current volunteer
• Attending a Mended Hearts Support Group meeting

Time Commitment

• Three to four hours per week, Monday to Friday
• One-year commitment required

Contact Information

For more information, contact Heidi Sullivan, manager of Volunteer Services, at heidi.sullivan@duke.edu.