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This article was originally published by Duke University.
Rising ninth-grader Alivia Williams arrived at Duke’s Trent Semans Great Hall with her mom, Carla, to sign up for her field of study at a newly established Durham early college high school that will specialize in health care.
“Research,” answered the reserved 14-year-old before registering.
Meanwhile, Kyle Jara, 14, had grabbed a plate of food and was sitting a few feet away from his parents. “I want to be a registered nurse and maybe become an anesthesiologist,” he said.
Alivia and Kyle are among the 100 inaugural class members of the Durham Early College of Health Sciences (DECHS), a new school located at Durham Technical Community College in a renovated space that’s set to begin classes in the fall of 2025. This effort exemplifies Duke’s commitment to growing educational and economic opportunities for Durham residents through partnerships.
DECHS is the result of a partnership between Duke Health, Durham Tech and Durham Public Schools that received a $29.5 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies to create an early college program for high school students, such as Alivia and Kyle, who are interested in going into health care careers after graduation.
“Both my parents are in health care at Duke,” Kyle said. “They inspired me to do the same. My dad works at the eye care center. My mom is a bedside nurse.”
In addition to training and studying for careers in nursing, allied health, surgical tech and clinical research, the early college students will simultaneously earn their high school diplomas, and an associate degree or credentials needed for work in health care fields. Upon graduation, the students have a direct gateway to a job at Duke Health.
The signing ceremony included welcoming remarks from DECHS principal Joshua Brown, Durham Tech President J.B. Buxton, and Duke University Executive Vice President for Health Affairs Dr. Mary E. Klotman. Duke Health Chief Executive Officer Craig Albanese presented closing remarks. The keynote address was delivered by Hope Reynolds, an acute care physical therapy resident at Duke Health.
“Through my own personal experience, I found the world of physical therapy at the exact moment when I needed it, and suddenly I could think of doing nothing else,” said Reynolds. “A program like Early College of Health Sciences would have given me a way to chase this passion of mine early on… And I am so excited that you get to participate in a program like this one.”
“You are part of something much larger than yourself. You are now part of a community of health professionals.”
–DECHS principal Joshua Brown
Klotman noted that Duke celebrated its centennial last year, and that from its start, Duke was committed to medical research, clinical care, along with educating and training the next generation of health care providers and scientists.
“It is incredibly appropriate that in this 101st year, you are part of that history,” she told the new DECHS students. “And we will remember that incredibly wise partnership that started something I think is going to transform health care in Durham. To our students, congratulations.”
“You have chosen wisely.”
Find more information on the Durham Early College of Health Sciences here.
