Spring 2027 New College Student Volunteers

Duke University Hospital

Duke University Hospital

Getting Started – Mandatory Orientation

  • All new volunteers must attend the MANDATORY hospital orientation on Tuesday, January 5, 2027 from 5:30 to 8:00 pm if they are accepted into a volunteer program.
  • If you cannot attend this mandatory orientation, you cannot volunteer in the spring. Please do not continue with the application process.
  • Alternative orientation dates will not be provided.
  • Department training may also be scheduled for immediately following volunteer orientation depending on your placement.

Who can apply?

  • Undergraduate Students: Freshman, sophomores, and juniors may apply to volunteer for the spring 2027.At this time, we are not accepting seniors graduating in spring 2027.
  • Graduate Students: Any graduate student may apply to volunteer for the spring 2027.

Volunteer Commitment

  • The spring 2027 semester will begin on January 4, 2027 and run for 15 weeks ending April 18, 2027.
  • Volunteers are required to volunteer 24-30 hours during the spring 2027 semester and volunteer for at least 2 academic semesters.
  • Volunteers will not be required to volunteer on holidays/breaks (Martin Luther King Day, spring break, or Easter) but may volunteer if they are staying on campus.

If you meet the orientation and commitment requirements above, please follow the steps below.

Step 1 of 7: Review Volunteer Opportunities

  • Click here for our spring 2027 volunteer opportunities for college students.
  • Note that not all volunteer assignments listed will be accepting new volunteers for the spring 2027.

Step 2 of 7: Complete Volunteer Application

  • Complete a volunteer application between 9:00 am on Friday, September 18, 2026 through 10:00 pm on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
  • Applications received after the 10:00 pm deadline on Sunday, October 11, 2026, will not be accepted
  • Volunteer opportunities will be limited and not all students will have the opportunity to volunteer for the spring 2027.
  • Undergraduate Volunteer Application
  • Graduate Volunteer Application

Step 3 of 7: Availability & Assignment Preference

  • After you submit your application, you will receive a survey to complete to indicate your availability and assignment preference for the spring.
  • Complete this survey by midnight on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
  • If your responses are not received by midnight on November 10, you will not be eligible to volunteer during the spring 2027.

Step 4 of 7: Health Clearance

  • Complete the following Health Clearance steps no later than November 1, 2026.
  • Obtaining your health clearance does not guarantee that you will be accepted into the volunteer program. The number of openings, your interview, your availability, and your choice of volunteer assignment will impact our decision.

Instructions:

  • Complete steps 1, 2 and 3 below no later than October 18, 2026.
  • Allow 2 weeks for Student Health or Employee Health to process your records or for a response if you are emailing a question.

If Volunteer Services does not receive your health clearance by November 1, 2026 you will not be able to volunteer during the spring and you may reapply for the summer or fall 2027 semester.

 

Step HC 1 of 5: Review your Duke Student Health Immunization Record (by October 18, 2026)

Follow the steps below to access your Student Health immunization record and to determine what documentation is required to complete your volunteer health screening.

  • Log into the "Student Health Gateway" using your Net Id and Date of Birth https://shc.duhs.duke.edu
  • Click "Immunizations" on the left toolbar
  • Below is a list of the required volunteer immunizations:
    • 1 dose of Tdap after turning 18 years old
    • 2 doses of MMR or positive antibody titer
    • 2 doses of Varicella or a positive antibody titer
    • TB test performed within 6 months of application date. If you receive an IGRA TB blood test, send the actual lab report. If you receive a ppd skin test, the documentation must include the following: date placed, date read, result in mm, interpretation, signature and credentials of person reading test.
    • Flu vaccine for the 2026/2027 flu season. Visit https://students.duke.edu/fluclinics/ for a list of campus flu vaccination locations, dates and times.

Step HC 2 of 5: Missing Requirements (by October 18, 2026)

If you are missing any of the other requirements listed in step 1, schedule an appointment with Student Health before October 18, 2026 by calling 919-681-9355, option 2.

 

Step HC 3 of 5: Request your Health Clearance after you have completed the above requirements (including TB testing) (by October 18, 2026)

Email the following information to Student Health at bluehealthclearance@duke.edu

  • Name
  • Date of birth
  • Unique ID number (begins with "0")
  • Status requested (shadowing or volunteering or both). Please specify you are apply for the spring 2027
  • Indicate if this is the first time you are applying or if you are re-applying.
  • Documentation of any vaccines, titers, or TB testing which are not presently in your Student Health record.
  • Please allow 2 weeks for Student Health to process your records or for a response if you are emailing a question.


Step HC 4 of 5: Obtain your Health Clearance (by November 1, 2026)

Student Health will review your health records.

  • You will receive a secure message via your Student Health Gateway notifying you of the status of your health clearance request or requesting additional information.
  • Watch for an email stating “You have an important message from Duke Student Health."
  • To view this email, check your secure messages immediately by following the steps below:
    • Log into the "Student Health Gateway" using your Net Id and Date of Birth https://shc.duhs.duke.edu.
    • Click "Messages" on the left toolbar.

Step HC 5 of 5: Health Clearance Documentation (by November 1, 2026)

  • Once you have received your health clearance, please email Volunteer Services at DUHVolunteerServices@dm.duke.edu and simply state your name and that you have received your health clearance from Student Health.

Instructions:

  • Please complete steps 1 and 2 below no later than October 18, 2026.
  • Allow 2 weeks for Employee Health to process your records or for a response if you are emailing a question.
  • If Volunteer Services does not receive your health clearance by November 1, 2026 you will not be able to volunteer during the spring semester and you may reapply for the summer or fall 2027.
     

Step HC 1 of 3: Review your Immunization Records (by October 18 28, 2026)

Below is a list of the required volunteer immunizations:

  • 1 dose of Tdap after turning 18 years old
  • 2 doses of MMR or positive antibody titer
  • 2 doses of Varicella or a positive antibody titer
  • TB test performed within 6 months of application date. If you receive an IGRA TB blood test, send the actual lab report. If you receive a ppd skin test, the documentation must include the following: date placed, date read, result in mm, interpretation, signature and credentials of person reading test.
  • Flu vaccine for the 2026/2027 flu season.

Step HC 2 of 3: Health Clearance Request Form (by October 18, 2026)

  • Please contact your Student Health office to obtain any missing items.
  • Once you have ALL your documentation, email those documents to Bradley Petrusa <bradley.petrusa@duke.edu> with the subject “DUH Volunteer Health Clearance Needed- YOUR NAME”.
  • Include the following information in your request email:
    • Name
    • Address
    • Phone #
    • Email
    • Date of Birth
    • Duke Unique ID (Contact Volunteer Services at DUHVolunteerServices@dm.duke.edu if you do not have your Duke Unique ID within 3 business days after submitting your volunteer application))

Step HC 3 of 3: Obtain your Health Clearance (by November 1, 2026)

  • The Employee Health nurse will review your records and notify you if items are missing.
  • You will be notified via email once everything is complete.
  • Please allow 2 weeks to process your records.
  • If Volunteer Services does not receive your health clearance by November 1, 2026, you will not be able to volunteer during the spring and you may reapply for summer or fall 2027.

Step 5 of 7: Interviews

  • You will be contacted via email between Monday, November 16 to Friday, November 20, 2026 to schedule an interview.
  • Virtual interviews will be conducted between Monday, November 23 to Friday, December 6, 2026.

Step 6 of 7: Decisions

  • Decision emails will be sent to all applicants between December 7 to December 11,2026.
  • If you are accepted, the email will include your volunteer assignment and shift.
  • A second interview may be necessary for some volunteer programs.

Step 7 of 7: Onboarding

  • If accepted into a volunteer program, complete all necessary onboarding steps by Sunday, December 20, 2026.

If you have any questions, please contact Volunteer Services at DUHVolunteerServices@dm.duke.edu.

Support Duke Health research or honor a loved one with a tribute gift.