Durham Early College for Health Sciences Celebrates Opening With Ribbon Cutting

Teenagers practicing cpr on dummies
Students get hands-on practice with participating medical mobile health units and groups at the event: the Duke-North Carolina Central University Bridge Office, the North Carolina Central University Mobile Health Unit, El Centro Hispano, Durham Tech, Duke Life Flight

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 (DECHS). Located in Research Triangle Park and made possible through a $29+ million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the school is a collaborative effort to position Durham and the Triangle as a model for preparing the next generation of health care providers.    

DECHS is one of four early college high schools in the Durham Public Schools system. The academic year began on August 7, when nearly 90 incoming ninth graders were welcomed with much fanfare to their new school.

Choosing from five health sciences programs

The academically rigorous program allows students to complete both honors and AP-level high school courses and college courses, with the students selecting one of five health science programs at Durham Tech: LPN Nursing, RN Nursing, Surgical Technician, Medical Assisting or Clinical Research — for which they will earn licensure upon completion of the program. Throughout the school year, students participate in hands-on, experiential learning activities during Medical Exploration days. 

Watch the day unfold.

“The hands-on experience is pretty important,” says DECHS student Lindsey Lemons. “A lot of people learn better that way — doing things they can see and try themselves. It sticks with them.” 

Duke Health will hire at least 60% of the graduates upon completion of the program.  

Duke is thrilled to play a part in creating pathways for Durham students to become the next generation of health care providers — right here at home. “At Duke, our faculty and our nurses are excited to be partners, mentors and collaborators with these students in developing their health care skills, and much more, including confidence and professionalism and character,” said Duke President Vincent Price.

Building on longstanding partnerships

DECHS builds on Duke’s longstanding partnerships with both DPS and Durham Tech. “This is not just about a shadowing opportunity, or a show-and-tell in the classroom,” said Durham Tech President JB Buxton. “This is about relationships between students, [Durham Tech] faculty, and the health system, in order for our students to be able to see that not only is this something they could be, but it’s somewhere they belong and it’s somewhere they will make an impact.” 

Duke forges purposeful partnerships in Durham and beyond. Through these partnerships, we aim to improve health and well-being in communities. Learn more.  

A ribbon cutting event marked the opening of the Early College for Health Sciences on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
JB Buxton, president of Durham Tech; Anthony Lewis, DPS superintendent; Joshua Brown, DECHS principal; Vincent Price, Duke president; Kate Herman, Bloomberg Philanthropies