Help Local Students Learn About Healthcare Careers

Duke University Health System is seeking volunteers for the MaryAnn Black Summer Internship Program

The rising sun shines on the Duke University Health System campus, including Duke Clinic, Duke Cancer Center and the Duke Medicine Pavilion. Photo by Jared Lazarus, University Communications.
The rising sun shines on the Duke University Health System campus, including Duke Clinic, Duke Cancer Center and the Duke Medicine Pavilion. Photo by Jared Lazarus, University Communications.

Duke University Health System is looking for Duke staff and faculty willing to share about their job in healthcare with local high school students this summer.

Between July 10 and July 28, Duke Health will host Durham County high school students through the MaryAnn Black Summer Internship Program, which exposes local youth between ages 15 and 18 to the possibilities of a career in healthcare.

“This exposure is designed to strengthen students’ interest in the health care industry and to build a pipeline that meets the health care workforce shortages in our community,“ wrote Debra Clark Jones, associate vice president of Community Health in a memo to Duke Health leaders. “Every role within Duke Health is vital to our mission and any shortage in any area impacts us all.”

Founded in 2015 by MaryAnn Black, the late associate vice president for Community Relations for Duke Health, the paid internship is a collaboration between Duke Health and Durham YouthWorks that aims to teach young adults the skills needed to succeed in the workforce.

As part of the hybrid program, health system leaders are looking to identify staff and faculty willing to share about their profession and their career journey in a virtual 15-minute presentation over Zoom, followed by 15 minutes of questions from the group.

Health system employees can also volunteer as virtual proctors during one-hour blocks on Zoom or help guide the group during tours as in-person volunteers. Those interested in volunteering should fill out a volunteer form before May 14 to be considered.

Last year, 36 students from 12 high school and early college programs, the largest class to date, were exposed to 50 different professions in Duke Health.

For more information about the MaryAnn Black Summer Internship Program, please contact Darla Wohlfarth at 984-312-5973 or Darla.Wohlfarth@duke.edu.

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