Matriculating Students

All incoming DukeMed students are required to complete both a criminal conviction and government sanctions background check. Matriculation is contingent upon providing authorization for the background check and permitting the release of the findings to DukeMed.

Students will receive detailed instructions after committing to enroll, including an email from Duke Hire Right Background Verification. The completed background check will be due by July 1, 2026.

Greetings Incoming Class,

Welcome to Duke School of Medicine! We are excited to have you join our community and look forward to meeting you soon!

As you prepare for the start of medical school, there are several required compliance items that must be completed before you begin on August 3, 2026. Our team is here to support you through the process, so please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions.

What to Expect 

Your compliance requirements will be completed through Kuali, an online platform where you'll upload documents, complete attestations, and electronically sign required forms.

Your required items are outlined in the MED1 Compliance Guide, which includes step-by-step instructions for accessing Kuali, completing each requirement, and the deadlines associated with them. Please review the guide carefully before getting started.

We've also attached a Compliance Checklist to help you track your progress and ensure all requirements are completed on time.

Why Compliance Is Required

Compliance requirements are mandatory for all MD students and help ensure Duke School of Medicine remains compliant with institutional, accreditation, and regulatory standards. Completing your requirements by the listed deadlines is necessary to remain eligible to participate in your educational and clinical activities.

Need Help?

Because this may be your first time using Kuali, you may have questions as you work through the process. If you have trouble accessing the system, uploading documentation, completing forms, or are unsure what is required, please reach out—we're happy to help.

If you anticipate that you will be unable to complete any requirement by its stated deadline, please let us know as soon as possible so we can discuss your situation.

Finally, please keep an eye on your inbox later today for a separate email from me regarding your Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, which will include additional information and instructions.

Thank you for your prompt attention to these important requirements. We appreciate your partnership and look forward to welcoming you to campus in August!

Your MD Compliance Team

After you Commit to Enroll at DukeMed, your status will be updated in the Duke system and you will receive an email to set up your Duke NetID and password and to activate your official Duke email address. Former Duke students or current employees who have a Net ID and email account already established will not receive an email and can work with OIT to use the same account. Anyone requiring assistance, should contact MedEd IT Helpdesk @ 919-668-6212 or mededit_helpdesk@duke.edu.

View DukeMed Student Benefits Summary.

Important: All students must complete a drug screen as prior to orientation. A lab acquisition form will be sent to your new Duke email address from OTSWebApp@labcorp.com.
This form is unique to you and specifies the drug screen panel required and a specific window of time in which this must be scheduled.

▶ How do I find a LabCorp location to complete my drug screen?

Use LabCorp’s lab locator to identify the closest testing site:
🔗 https://www.labcorp.com/patients/labs-and-appointments

▶ What do I need to bring to my drug screen appointment?

Please bring:

• The LabCorp acquisition form that was emailed to you from OTSWebApp@labcorp.com
• A government‑issued photo ID (driver’s license, passport, or REAL ID)

▶ Do I need to schedule an appointment?

Appointment requirements vary by LabCorp location. Some locations accept walk‑ins, while others require appointments. Visit your chosen LabCorp location’s website to confirm hours and scheduling requirements.

▶ What if there is no LabCorp location in my state?

Contact Duke Occupational Health at 919‑286‑3232 for assistance with alternative testing arrangements.

▶ What if I miss my appointment and the testing window is closed?

Failure to complete your drug screen within the required testing timeframe is considered a refusal and is recorded as a failed screen and may result in dismissal from the program.

▶ My drug screen result says “negative dilute.” What does that mean?

A “negative dilute” result indicates that your urine sample was overly diluted, most often due to excessive water intake prior to testing. It does not mean that drugs were present in the urine sample just that there was too much water to tell one way or the other.

What happens next?

• You will be required to repeat the drug screen within 72 hours.
• To help prevent dilution, consider drinking small amounts of fluids such as tea or soda, rather than large amounts of water.  Testing first thing in the morning is also useful.

⚠️ If you re-test and the result is “negative dilute” again, you may be dismissed from the program.  Contact your program director immediately to discuss. 

▶ Should I avoid CBD products before my drug screen?

Yes. You should avoid all CBD products prior to testing.

⚠️ CBD products—even those labeled “THC‑Free”—may contain trace amounts of THC and can result in a positive (failed) drug screen.

▶ Cannabis is legal in my home state. Will use be an issue?

Yes. Matriculating students are expected to comply with the University’s Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy and the School of Medicine Policy.

⚠️ The University prohibits the use of cannabis and cannabis‑related products, including THC‑containing and alternative cannabis products, regardless of legality in another state.

▶ What if I arrive at LabCorp and can’t provide a urine sample?

LabCorp follows a standard hydration protocol in this situation. You are required to remain onsite and follow the protocol until a sample is provided.

⚠️ Leaving the testing facility before providing a urine sample is considered a refusal and will be recorded as a positive (failed) result.

▶ I take prescription medications. Should I stop taking them?

No. Continue taking all medications exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider.

If a prescribed medication appears on your drug screen, a Medical Review Officer (MRO) from Duke Occupational Health will contact you to verify your prescription before finalizing the result.

▶ How will I know the results of my drug screen?

Results are usually available within a week of your screen.  You will receive an email from the Duke Office of LeWell, lewb@duke.edu with an attached health recommendation form that notes your clearance.  Once you have passed your Drug Screening, the Admissions team will update the on-boarding portal.

▶ Who should I contact with questions?

• Drug screening questions:
  Duke Occupational Health — 919‑286‑3232
• Other onboarding requirements (immunizations, compliance modules):
  Contact your program representative
• Unsure who to contact?
  Email the Duke Office of LE Well at lewb@duke.edu

ACTION #1: 

Please complete the Stethoscope Order Form.

The Duke Medical Alumni Association is pleased to be able to provide to you an engraved stethoscope, made possible by the generosity of our medical alumni.

Deadline to complete the order form is Tuesday, July 10th.

ACTION #2: 

Please complete the White Coat Order Form.

If you prefer to try on different sizes in person, you may visit the Medical Center Bookstore to make your decision. However, you must still complete the online order form. The Duke Medical Alumni Association is pleased to be able to provide to you an embroidered white coat, made possible by the generosity of our medical alumni.

Deadline to complete the order form is Monday, July 13th.

ACTION #3: 

Complete the Student Affairs Qualtrics Survey:  

Information provided here will be used throughout your time in medical school.  Please complete as soon as possible. 

Deadline is Monday, July 13th.

ACTION #4: 

Submit your photo for a DukeCard ID using the following instructions: Submit Your DukeCard Photo

Deadline is Monday, July 13th.

ACTION #5: 

Order your parking permit. Please note this is NOT required, but you must order via the linked website if you wish to purchase. You should select either Parking Garage 3 or Science Drive Garage.  Please note: There is currently a waiting list for the PG3 Garage.

If you are in the process of moving and do not have a Durham address yet, please mail your permit to the Parking & Transportation Office. 

Parking & Transportation 
302 Science Drive 
Box 90644 
Durham, NC 27708-0644 
Order your parking pass.

Deadline is Monday, July 13th.

ACTION #5: 

RSVP for the White Coat Ceremony

Deadline is Monday, July 13th.

ACTION #6: 

Pick up your technology package from MedEdIT.

MedEdIT will be distributing all laptops/iPads to students on July 31. However, if you’re in Durham earlier than that and would like to pick up and setup your laptop with a member of our team, please reach out to book an appointment: mededit_helpdesk@duke.edu

NC State Law requires all incoming students present a certificate of immunization. Duke Student Health will process your immunization records. DukeMed incoming students should have the form for Health Science Students completed by a doctor, clinic, or health department and uploaded to your Student Health Gateway portal.  The portal will be open in July.

Students have 30 days after the first day of class to meet immunization compliance and TB requirements. The Duke Student Health website is here for more information; https://students.duke.edu/wellness/studenthealth/.  

All health Science (MD) students at Duke must start the IGRA TB blood test (T-spot or Quantiferon Gold) series before the start of school and can complete all testing within 6 months of matriculation. Health insurance information will be forthcoming; however, information can be found in the link above.

We understand that many of you are still working on getting your vaccinations and you may have to get additional titers/vaccinations when you are on campus. That is acceptable. Send your complete as possible immunization records to Student Health and you can work with them to get additional testing once you arrive on campus.

The Learning Environment & Well Being Office (LeWell) provide centralized services to support to SOM students and others involved in the healthcare learning environment.

The 2026 AAMC Matriculating Student Questionnaire (MSQ) is set to open on June 1 and close on September 15. Once we change your status to matriculate you will receive this survey from AAMC. We strongly encourage you to take the time to fill out the survey as it helps provide useful information for our team.

A laptop and iPad will be provided. You will receive a Macbook Air 13” – M5 / 16GB Ram / 512GB HD + 4-Year Applecare+ warranty inc. accidental damage coverage, iPad – 11th Gen 128GB + Apple Pencil, laptop sleeve and iPad case. You are expected to use these devices for your Medical Education. Computers/iPads must be kept regularly up to date with all security updates provided by Apple to keep your work and Duke Health systems secure. There is no waiving of the Technology fee - the fee covers a lot more than the initial technology that is provided to you. Any questions about the program should be directed to: darren.taylor@duke.edu.

July 9, 2026

Dear new Duke medical students,

On behalf of the Office of Curricular Affairs (OCA), I am so excited to welcome you to Duke University School of Medicine and your first year of medical school! Training highly skilled and compassionate physicians is at the forefront of our mission. We are committed to providing you an exceptional learning experience, and we are here to support you along your journey. At Duke Med, we aim to model continuous quality improvement, a skill all physicians must do well. We are committed to open, timely communication and collaboration with our students. We send school-wide updates through our weekly student newsletter to highlight the key changes and time-sensitive plans to enhance communication. Please check your Duke email regularly for the latest updates on the MS2030-priority listserv where you received this welcome email. Emails through this listserv are our official means of communication, and we aim for clear and transparent messaging throughout your educational experience. Please let us know how we can help you become the transformative physicians our communities need!

Duke Med’s curriculum primarily involves learning through in-person, on-campus sessions for a supportive and meaningful team-based learning environment. We identified the successes from the previous years with select asynchronous or virtual sessions and integrated those throughout the curriculum as well. All MS1 course information is housed on Canvas; you will receive training in Canvas during Orientation. Canvas will include your specific schedules, assignments, and clarity on which sessions are in-person. Your course directors will communicate with you directly through your Duke email and through Canvas announcements.

We are pleased to offer y’all a transformative learning experience through our Patient FIRST curriculum. We teach through the lens of patients’ experiences starting with the first course of medical school: the Clinical Skills Training Immersion. We are grateful to the many course directors, staff, and faculty members who have developed robust, fully-integrated first year courses – Foundations of Patient Care 1 and 2. All the components – Biomedical sciences, Clinical Skills Foundation (CSF), Social and Structural Drivers of Health (SSDH), and Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) – are intentionally integrated to deliver a comprehensive learning experience. We are breaking down the artificial barrier between the biomedical and clinical clerkship years with vertical integration of these two phases across your first two years. During your clerkship phase, you will begin traditional inpatient clerkships and embark on PIONEER, a longitudinal ambulatory block where you will also have time for self-directed learning, career exploration, and skills development workshops. Our curriculum focuses on developing life-long learning and a habit of inquiry. During your third year, you will conduct a dedicated research project to continually push the boundaries as change agents of science, patient care, medical education, health systems, and public policy. And as a fourth-year student, you will consolidate your experience in preparation for residency and beyond, learning to manage acutely ill patients, completing specialty-specific rotations and electives, and culminating your Duke Med experience with our Capstone course. Our graduates are compassionate, highly competent physicians who put patients FIRST, and we are so excited to have you join us!

Please see below for key information for your first semester at Duke Med. This letter is long, but hopefully a great reference as you embark on this exciting time.

Orientation – Dr. Jackson and his team sent you a communication earlier this week with many details. Your Advisory Deans and all of us are excited to welcome you to Duke Med and Durham!

Canvas – All MS1 curricular materials will be posted on Canvas at https://dukemed.instructure.com. Canvas will be the primary source of MS1 course information – including announcements, daily schedules, assignments, resources, and more – so you will be using the platform frequently. You will receive training about Canvas during orientation, and our educational technology team is available and committed to supporting you throughout your time at DUSOM.

Clinical Skills Training Immersion Course – the Clinical Skills Training Immersion Course (CSTI) is a two-week introductory course which occurs as the first course of the first year of medical school immediately after Orientation. This full-time course introduces students to basic clinical skills, including history-taking, physical exam, evidence-based medicine, professional identity formation, and point-of-care ultrasound. Instruction consists of small-group sessions, large-group sessions, and independent study activities. The skills introduced in this course will be further developed and refined throughout the remaining four years of medical school as part of a longitudinal clinical skills curricular thread.

Immediately after CSTI, you will begin the Foundations of Patient Care 1 (FPC1) course on August 24 which has the following components:

•             Biomedical Sciences – the biomedical sciences portion of the course will begin with CT scanning of your cadaver in mid-August during CSTI. In the first week of class in late August, you will start the dissection of your donor, begin learning cell biology, and examine specimens in histology lab.

•             SSDH – the Social and Structural Drivers of Health (SSDH) component introduces concepts and frameworks that impact patients’ health. You will be introduced on how to navigate social and structural drivers practically as a physician; these critical elements of patient care will be explored through an integrated longitudinal pathway across FPC1 and FPC2.

•             CSF1 – immediately following and building off CSTI, you will begin your Clinical Skills Foundation (CSF) component, a three-year longitudinal thread that meets every Tuesday afternoon throughout the first year with emphasis on the physician-patient relationship. CSF1 focuses on skills necessary to become competent physicians: obtaining an accurate patient-centered history, performing the clinically indicated physical examination, communicating professionally both verbally and written, generating and refining a differential diagnosis, and integrating biomedical knowledge into patient management plans. Under the guidance of skilled, clinically active faculty and senior medical students, 8-9 peer first-year medical students work together in a small group team to develop and practice these skills together.

•             LEAD – the Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) component is a longitudinal curriculum designed to optimize each student’s individual strengths needed to pursue a career in medicine. During FPC1 and FPC2, students will learn and apply principles of leadership skills in the healthcare setting through large group and small group sessions. The principles of LEAD—emotional intelligence, teamwork, service, integrity, and critical thinking—will prepare students to serve patients and collaborate with team members to transform healthcare delivery.

Holiday Schedule – we want to give you information about the Thanksgiving holiday break for those of you who want to make travel arrangements in advance. The Monday before Thanksgiving (November 24) is scheduled as a virtual learning day with lectures that you can attend via Zoom or watch later. There will be no other learning events planned for that week. Please note that there is a mandatory event on the afternoon of Friday, November 21st and on the afternoon of Monday, December 1st. Please reference the excused absence and professionalism policy and expectations for additional information available in the School of Medicine Bulletin on the Registrar webpages. You will be able to review the detailed attendance philosophy and expectations in the FPC1 course syllabus posted on Canvas. Please contact Jennifer Carbrey, PhD, Assistant Dean for Foundational Sciences Education and Course Director for FPC1 at jennifer.carbrey@duke.edu with any questions.

We are thrilled to welcome you to the Duke Med community. Please continue to check your emails for updates as more information becomes available. Thank you again for allowing Duke Med to be part of your journey. We are so excited to meet you very soon and look forward to supporting you in an amazing educational experience here at Duke Med!

Sincerely,

Saumil Chudgar, MD, MHA, MSEd 
Associate Dean of Curricular Affairs 
Professor of Medicine 

For information about parking permits, visit the Duke Transportation website to explore Parking Lots & Permits and Annual Rates.

We are excited to announce that positions in the Primary Care Leadership Track (PCLT) for the Class of 2030!

If you value longitudinal care and are interested in a career in primary care, appreciate focused mentorship and coaching, we encourage you to apply. PCLT offers a unique opportunity to develop the skills and experiences needed to become a leader in primary care. You can learn more about our program through our website.  https://medschool.duke.edu/education/health-professions-education-programs/doctor-medicine-md-program/curriculum/dual-5.

Want to be considered for PCLT?  Send a 1-2 paragraph of interest to our program coordinator Molly Wilder, molly.wilder@duke.edu by July 10th. 

Any questions about the program, please contact the program director Fatima Syed fatima.syed@duke.edu or Molly.

The program starts Monday, August 3, 2026 with Introduction to the Profession – attendance is mandatory.  PCLT students have an earlier mandatory orientation start date of Wednesday, July 29^th and Thursday, July 30^th.  First day of classes is Monday, August 10, 2026.

Online registration for incoming first year medical students opens June 17th. Fall registration will close at 1:00 pm on Friday, July 24th. All students must be enrolled in the following required courses before the 1:00 pm deadline on July 24th.*

*Failure to enroll by the deadline may result in the completion of a professionalism notification.

First year students (MS1) must enroll in the following 1st year courses for the fall 2026 term:

The online registration instructions with screenshots are available on the SoM Registrar's website. There is also a short video that goes over the online registration process. A link to the video may be found on the SoM Registrar's website, https://medschool.duke.edu/education/health-professions-education-programs/student-services/office-registrar/student-services, under "Resources and Instructions".

If you have questions or concerns about the on-line registration process, do not hesitate to contact the SoM Registrar’s Office via email at medreg@mc.duke.edu. We look forward to your arrival.

Dear Entering Class of 2026,

On behalf of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA), we are excited to welcome you to Duke Med! Each of  you bring a unique story and we look forward to the opportunities ahead to build community together. As you embark on this next stage of your medical journey, we are eager to help create a supportive space as you cultivate your professional identity as physicians. 

Your week-long orientation course is entitled, “Introduction to the Medical Profession.” Each activity is intentionally designed to share knowledge and inspire reflection as you engage with collaborators across the Duke community. We have prioritized topics that will help you to thrive as a medical student. Please make plans to join us for Day #1 on Monday August 3^rd in the Trent Semans Center for Health Education (TSCHE, 2^nd floor Lobby).  You can check in beginning at 8:30 am and enjoy a light continental breakfast. 

As a next step please take care of important tasks which are located on the following guidepost link: guidepost.students.duke.edu.  Please note the important deadlines listed in the guidepost platform. 

Here is a general timetable of scheduled activities for your first week of medical school:  

Please know that our team is here for you! We strive to provide targeted advising and programmatic activities to inform your future career decisions.  You will receive your Advisory Dean assignment during orientation.   Your Dean will follow you throughout medical school and serves as one of your first points of contact. We embrace a collaborative approach to advising and invite you to reach out to any student affair dean or other member of the medical education faculty and staff team for support. 

While it's normal to have a host of emotions at the start of your medical training experience, I do hope that each of you will begin with a sense of joy, gratitude, and expectation.  I also encourage you to enter in with a sense of humility and curiosity.  Please know there is  a village of students, staff, and faulty who are eager to greet you and help you as you get started at Duke Med!

Welcome to the Duke Med community.  We look forward to connecting with each of you next month. 

Please contact medOSA@duke.edu with questions.

Sincerely,

Joseph Jackson Jr. MD

Associate Dean & Director 

Office of Student Affairs

Duke University School of Medicine

If you have questions about the Technical Standards, including clarification on how reasonable accommodations are defined, contact Duke’s Student Disability Access Office (SDAO) at sdao@duke.edu or 919‐668‐1267.

Students must have access to reliable personal transportation, such as a personal vehicle, in order to travel to clinical training sites located outside of Durham for MD2 year. With limited public transportation options in Durham, if you do not have a personal vehicle, you should be prepared to rely on alternate modes of transport such as Uber/Lyft or other personally-sourced modes of transportation. All students should expect to have clinical assignments outside of Durham during the MD2 year. Please note that training at clinical sites in the community is a fundamental part of our curriculum in preparing you to care for patients and families.

The White Coat Ceremony is scheduled for Friday, August 7, 2026, for students and their families. The evening will begin with a light welcome reception at 4:30 PM on Duke University campus in the Bryan Center, followed by the ceremony at 6:00 PM in nearby Page Auditorium. Additional details will be shared by the Office of Student Affairs closer to the event date.

If you have health insurance coverage through your parents, you can waive the Duke Health Insurance here: https://students.duke.edu/wellness/studenthealth/insurance/enrolling-in-or-waiving-smip/.