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.

The deadline is June 15, 2026.  If you already know you are planning to matriculate to DukeMed, change your status in the Choose your Medical School tool located within the AMCAS application at any time before the deadline. 

Duke University Medical Center and the School of Medicine require all students to complete online safety and compliance training. The safety and compliance modules that are required will be listed on the matriculation website in the coming weeks. Incoming students are required to be compliant to begin courses and register for future terms. More details are forthcoming.

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.  You must then upload that to your program’s onboarding 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

Admitted students that submitted all of the required financial aid application documents should have received an award notification via email. If you did not receive a revised award notification, please contact the financial aid office at finaid-som@dm.duke.edu. Once you receive your NetID and set-up your password, you may access your financial aid via DukeHub. You will be able to accept, reduce, or decline loan amounts, apply for loans, e-sign promissory notes, complete entrance counseling, and set-up direct deposit for refunds through DukeHub. Details regarding your financial aid packages should be discussed directly with the School of Medicine Financial Aid Office. 

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.

All incoming students have 30 days after the first day of class to meet immunization compliance and TB requirements.

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.

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

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.

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.

Final transcripts must be sent from your undergraduate and/or graduate institution(s) with the degree(s) conferred on or before July 1, 2026. The electronic official transcript(s) should be sent to medadm@duke.edu. We will confirm receipt of your transcript(s) once they are received. Failure to provide a transcript that reflects work comparable in quality to what your admission offer was based on, may result in your admission being rescinded. If you have attended more than two schools and your degree granting institution does not accept the courses or if you attend a school that submits transcripts after this deadline, reach out to medadm@duke.edu. Please note: DukeMed does not have access to your transcript from your AMCAS application.

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.