Home Volunteer Services

College Student Program

Duke University Hospital

Short Overview

Note: Note: At this time, we are reviewing all college students who have expressed interest in volunteering with Duke University Hospital and Duke University Hospital-based clinics for the College Student Program starting Spring 2023.

If you are interested in the adult community or college student volunteer program and you have not already filled out an interest survey, please complete the volunteer interest survey form under Become a Volunteer.   

College Student Volunteer

Duke University Hospital is pleased to offer a volunteer program for college students. Although the program is designed to meet core competencies for students considering a career in health professions, volunteering is open to all majors.

Volunteer programs at Duke University Hospital do not provide clinical or shadowing experience. They do, however, provide opportunities for patient and family engagement in a hospital or clinic setting.

Volunteer Requirements

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  • Be at least 18 years old.
  • Adhere to Duke University Policies and Procedures.
  • Flu (Seasonal) and COVID-19 full vaccination + booster required (exemptions may be filed). 
  • Completion of the application process, including references, background screening, and health clearance. Note: Please review the health screening requirements below.
  • Completion of mandatory hospital and department orientation/training.
  • The expected volunteer commitment is a minimum of 2 academic semesters.
  • Weekly volunteer attendance of a minimum of 2 to 4 hours per week is required based on the department’s scheduling needs. These will be noted in the position descriptions.

Please note: Once assigned, these programs will be counting on your assistance. Your academic advisor may request attendance information at any time. Excessive absences may be cause for dismissal from the volunteer program.

Health Clearance Requirements

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To be accepted into the College Student Program, please make sure that you meet the following immunization requirements:

  • 1 dose of Tdap within the last 10 years
  • 2 doses of  MMR or a positive antibody titer
  • 2 doses of Varicella or a positive antibody titer
  • If you have not had TB testing in the US in the past 6 months from the application date, TB testing is required. 
    • IGRA blood tests (QuantiFERON-TB Gold or T-spots) or ppd skin tests are accepted. 
    • All IGRA tests must include the lab report.  
    • All ppd skin tests must include date placed, date read, result in mm, interpretation, and signature and credentials of the person reading the test. 
    • PPD skin tests must be read within 48-72 hours of placement.
  • A complete WHO (World Health Organization) approved COVID-19 vaccine series plus a booster dose, per CDC time guidelines.
    • Exemptions/Deferral - Those seeking approval for medical or religious exemptions or pregnancy deferral should email immunizations@duke.edu to request an exemption form. Students who already have an exemption on file, do not need to send another form.
  • 2022/2023 flu vaccine once it is available. There will be campus flu shot clinics offered by Duke Student Health across the Duke University campus for Duke Students and across Duke University Hospital for all volunteers in September.

Health Screening Process for Duke Students 

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Please note: Failure to complete any of the steps below may impact your volunteer placement. If you are missing any of the above immunizations, please obtain them before submitting your Request for a Health Clearance (Step 3).

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

  • Visit your Student Health Gateway
  • Click on the Immunization Compliance tab on the left hand side
  • Log into the "Student Health Gateway" using your Net ID and date of birth
  • Click "Immunizations" on the left tool bar. Required volunteer immunizations include:
    • 1 dose of Tdap within the last 10 years
    • 2 doses of  MMR or a positive antibody titer
    • 2 doses of Varicella or a positive antibody titer
    • If you have not had TB testing in the US in the past 6 months from the application date, TB testing is required. 
      • IGRA blood tests (Quantiferon Gold or T-spots) or ppd skin tests are accepted. 
      • All IGRA tests must include the lab report.  
      • All ppd skin tests must include date placed, date read, result in mm, interpretation, and signature and credentials of person reading test. 
      • PPD skin tests must be read within 48-72 hours of placement.
    • A complete WHO (World Health Organization) approved COVID-19 vaccine series plus a booster dose, per CDC time guidelines.
      • Exemptions/Deferral - Those seeking approval for medical or religious exemptions or pregnancy deferral should email immunizations@duke.edu to request an exemption form. Student who already have an exemption on file, do not need to send another form.
    • 2022/2023 flu vaccine once it is available. There will be campus flu shot clinics offered by Duke Student Health across the Duke University campus for Duke Students and across Duke University Hospital for all volunteers in September.

Description

​​​​If you have paid your summer health fee, you may schedule an appointment with Duke Student Health to obtain any missing immunizations. Please note: Duke Student Health will not be able to accommodate any appointments between August 1 and October 1. You may also work with your health care provider/medical practice/pharmacy/urgent care to obtain these immunization before you submit your Request for a Health Clearance.

Description

Once you have obtained all immunization documentation, please email the following information to Duke Student Health at bluehealthclearance@duke.edu. Please note: In order to be a volunteer applicant for the fall semester, please email this information to Duke Student Health as early as possible. Deadline to request a health clearance for any volunteer program will be Friday, July 22, 2022. Any health clearances requested after July 22, 2022 will not be accepted and will need to be resubmitted for volunteer opportunities in spring 2023.

  • Name
  • Date of Birth
  • Duke Unique ID number (begins with "0")
  • Status requested (shadowing or volunteering or both).  
  • Documentation of any vaccines, titers, or TB testing which are not presently in your Student Health record.

Please allow 7-10 days to process your records or for a response if you are emailing a question.

Description
  • Duke 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:
    • Go to the Student Health Gateway
    • Click on the Immunization Compliance tab on the left hand side.
    • Log into the "Student Health Gateway" using your Net ID and Date of Birth.
    • Click "Messages" on the left tool bar.

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Once you have received your health clearance, please notify Volunteer Services at duhs_volunteer_services@duke.edu or 919-681-6088. Please utilize the same contact confirmation for any questions or concerns. 

Become a Volunteer

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If you are interested in the college student volunteer program, please complete the volunteer interest survey.

Please note: You will be contacted once a decision has been made to onboard new volunteers. We ask that you complete the volunteer interest survey only once. If accepted to the program, you will be required to complete your health clearance by December 30, 2022. If you previously completed this survey, you do not need to complete it again. Please continue to check for updates.

Volunteer Opportunities

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To learn more about Duke University Hospital's available volunteer opportunities, browse the Duke University Hospital Directory.