Stelfanie Williams, Vice President for Community Affairs at Duke University and Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams.
Community Partnership
In alignment with Duke Health and Duke University, the Duke University School of Medicine is committed to serving others in our local community and beyond. Our faculty, staff and students make science-based decisions and seek to transform discoveries to improve human health through a variety of community initiatives, some of which are listed below.
Early College Partnership Between Duke Health, Durham Technical Community College and Durham Public Schools
A partnership between Duke Health, Durham Technical Community College and Durham Public Schools has been awarded a transformative $29.5 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies to establish an early college for high school students interested in pursuing health care careers upon graduation.
The Durham partnership will provide the preparation needed for careers in nursing, allied health, surgical tech, and clinical research. The key elements of the partnership are:
- Interested Durham Public Schools (DPS) students in grades 9-12 will attend the early college high school and simultaneously earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree or workforce credential for aligned health care occupations.
- The Middle College at Durham Tech will expand to an early college high school and will be housed at Durham Tech (DTCC) in a newly renovated space, with the school opening in the fall of 2025.
- Upon graduation, students will have an immediate pathway to jobs or research roles at Duke Health.
Community Partnerships in the News
Drones Now Deliver AEDs During 911 Calls in First-of-Its-Kind U.S. Study
Monique Starks, MD, associate professor at medicine, is leading the nation's first clinical trial of an innovative approach to saving more people who suffer cardiac arrest by delivering automated external defibrillators (AEDs) by drone. Drones carrying AEDs are being dispatched during real 911 calls in Forsyth County, North Carolina, to see if drones can deliver AEDs to patients faster than traditional emergency services.
Beyond the Prescription: Elevating Patient Conversations about Nutrition and Food Insecurity
Lynette Staplefoote-Boynton, MD, MPH, a fifth-year internal medicine-psychiatry resident, has developed a training curriculum to better equip primary care and psychiatry trainees at Duke and beyond to counsel their patients on issues of diet and access to healthy food.
Showcasing the reach of student research
The Duke Global Health Institute's annual's annual research showcase highlighted 47 student research projects spanning span 21 countries and a range of global health challenges.
Durham Early College for Health Sciences Celebrates Opening with Ribbon-Cutting
Durham Public Schools, Durham Tech, and Bloomberg Philanthropies joined Duke leaders on Wednesday in celebrating the ribbon-cutting of the new Durham Early College for Health Sciences. The school is a collaborative effort to position Durham and the Triangle as a model for preparing the next generation of health care providers.
Duke Health and Durham Celebrate Pride with a Weekend of Community and Wellness
The Durham community came together to celebrate “Pride: Durham, NC,” a three-day festival hosted by the LGBTQ Center of Durham. The event brought together several groups from Duke, local residents, and others for a celebration of identity and community.
Opioid Addiction Treatment Delivered on the Front Lines
Duke Health emergency medicine physicians turn opioid overdose response into path to recovery.
Williams Receives 2025 Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award
Lloyd Williams, MD, PhD, associate professor of ophthalmology and director of Duke Global Ophthalmology, has been awarded the 2025 Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, recognizing his commitment to curing blindness and expanding access to eye care around the world.
Helping Teens Navigate their Neighborhoods Led to Health Gains, Duke Study Shows
Durham teens who learned to navigate their city by bus, bike or on foot got more exercise, more independence, and a shot at healthier habits for life.
Duke Health Breaks Ground on Cary Expansion
The new facility will add hospital services to the existing Duke Health Cary location, including an emergency room, surgical services, imaging, cancer treatments, and other care.
Duke Medical Students Lead Cancer Awareness Training with El Centro Hispano
Two Duke medical students partnered with the largest Latino-led organization in North Carolina to lead a two-hour workshop in Spanish focused on head and neck cancer awareness and early detection techniques.