Summer 2026 New College Student Volunteers

Duke University Hospital

Duke University Hospital

Getting Started – Mandatory Orientation

  • All new volunteers must attend one of the following MANDATORY hospital orientations if they are accepted into a volunteer program:
    • Wednesday, May 13, 2026 from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm
    • Tuesday, May 19, 2026 from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm
  • If you cannot attend this mandatory orientation, you cannot volunteer in the summer. Please do not continue with the application process.
  • Alternative orientation dates will not be provided.

Who can apply?

  • Rising sophomores, juniors and seniors may apply to volunteer for the summer 2026.We are not accepting rising freshman for summer 2026.

Volunteer Commitment

  • Option 1 – Volunteering for Summer Only
    • Must commit to volunteer for at least 4-6 hours a week for a minimum of 12 weeks between May 11 and Aug 23, 2026 (which is a 15 week period).
    • Note: Volunteer orientation and department training will be completed during your first week of volunteering, but this week is NOT part of this 12-week minimum. Your first week of the 12 weeks of volunteering begins AFTER your training is completed.
  • Option 2 – Volunteer for a Portion of Summer
    • Must commit to volunteer for a minimum of 4-6 hours per week for a minimum of 6 weeks AND must commit to returning to volunteer for the fall 2026 semester.
    • Note: Volunteer orientation and department training will be completed during your first week of volunteering, but this week is NOT part of this 6-week minimum. Your first week of the 6 weeks of volunteering begins AFTER your training is completed.
  • Volunteers will not be required to volunteer on holidays (Juneteenth, Independence Day) 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 summer 2026 volunteer opportunities for college students.

Step 2 of 7: Complete Volunteer Application

  • Complete a Volunteer Application between 9:00 am on Monday, February 2, 2026 through midnight on Sunday, March 1, 2026.
  • Applications received after the midnight deadline on Sunday, March 1, 2026, will not be accepted
  • Volunteer opportunities will be limited and not all students will have the opportunity to volunteer for the summer 2026.

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 summer.
  • Complete this survey by midnight on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
  • If your responses are not received by midnight on March 5, you will not be eligible to volunteer during the summer 2026.

Step 4 of 7: Health Clearance

  • Complete the following Health Clearance steps no later than March 13, 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 March 2, 2026.
  • Allow 2 weeks for Student 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 March 13, 2026 you will not be able to volunteer during the summer and you may reapply for the summer 2027 or fall 2026 semester.
     

Step HC 1 of 5: Review your Duke Student Health Immunization Record (by March 2, 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.

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

If you are missing any of the other requirements listed in step 1, schedule an appointment with Student Health before March 2, 2026.

Step HC 3 of 5: Request your Health Clearance after you have completed the above requirements (including TB testing) (by March 2, 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 summer 2026
  • 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 March 13, 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 March 13, 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 March 2, 2026.
  • Allow 2 weeks for Employee Health to process your records or for a response if you are emailing a questions.
  • If Volunteer Services does not receive your health clearance by March 13, 2026you will not be able to volunteer during the summer semester and you may reapply for the fall 2026 or summer 2027.
     

Step HC 1 of 3: Review your Immunization Records (by OctMarch 2, 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.

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

  • Please contact your Student Health office to obtain any missing items.
  • Once you have ALL your documentation, email those documents to colleen.obrien@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)

Step HC 3 of 3: Obtain your Health Clearance (by March 13, 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 March 13, 2026, you will not be able to volunteer during the summer and you may reapply for fall 2026 or summer 2027.

Step 5 of 7: Interviews

  • You will be contacted via email between Monday, March 16 to Sunday, March 22, 2026 to schedule an interview.
  • Virtual interviews will be conducted between Monday, March 23 to Sunday, April 12, 2026.

Step 6 of 7: Decisions

  • Decision emails will be sent to all applicants between April 13 to April 17,2026.
  • 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, April 26, 2026.

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

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