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.