Welcome to Elevate, a monthly newsletter from the Office for Culture, Engagement, and Impact. Elevate is distributed to faculty, staff, and students in the Duke University School of Medicine. In this issue, we feature Lauren Brinkley‑Rubinstein, PhD, who researches how incarceration affects health. We also share recent news stories, resources, and coming events.

There isn’t much good associated with incarceration. Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, PhD, realized that early in her criminal justice studies, and it set the course for a career focused on understanding how incarceration affects health. Living in New York City and studying criminal justice policy as a graduate student exposed her to the deeper inequities of the criminal legal system. And later, a role at the Vera Institute of Justice sparked her interest in the intersection of incarceration and health. 

Now an associate professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences at Duke, Brinkley-Rubinstein explores how the trauma of incarceration — from flooded cells during climate disasters to the “extreme deprivation” of solitary confinement — shapes people’s health long after release.

The Michelle P. Winn Inclusive Excellence Award is presented annually to individuals in the School of Medicine who exemplify a commitment to excellence, innovation, and leadership. Any member of the School of Medicine may nominate a staff member, learner, faculty member, or team. Submit your nomination by February 17.

A Duke Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences team is partnering with organizations in western North Carolina to help support young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The initiative is funded by the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services.

There’s still time to nominate someone for the Dean’s Staff Awards, which recognize exemplary staff supporting the School of Medicine’s mission and values. Categories include the Community and Culture Impact Staff Award. Nomination deadline: January 30. 

The Office for Institutional Equity offers a series of workshops that is open to the Duke community. Upcoming workshops include Foundational Concepts for Inclusive Excellence, Trauma Informed Leadership, and Culture and Communication. Learn more about the series.

Help your child follow in your footsteps. Explore Durham Early College of Health Sciences! Applications for rising 9th graders are open through January 30 for this tuition-free public high school where students can earn a diploma, college credit, and a health care credential all while gaining real-world experience through Duke Health internships and job shadowing. Graduates are prepared for careers in nursing, clinical research, medical assisting, and surgical technology, with direct hiring opportunities at Duke Health. Learn more about the application process and how to apply.

The students, faculty, staff, and trainees of the School of Medicine hold a wide variety of religious backgrounds and celebrate many different holidays and observances. Learn more about some of the holidays and observances in 2026.

2026 Women’s Health Research Symposium
February 6 • 8 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
Trent Semans Center Great Hall

Faculty, fellows, postdocs, students, and staff from any discipline are invited to attend this symposium organized by the Duke/NCCU BIRCWH Career Development Program. The 10th annual event, a scientific meeting on all aspects of women's health, will feature scholar presentations, roundtable lunch discussions, and two panels.

2026 Samuel DuBois Cook Awards
February 9 • 5 p.m.
Penn Pavilion

Each year, the Samuel DuBois Cook Society honors Duke staff, administrators, faculty, and students and local community members whose work, research and service reflect Dr. Cook’s social activism and leadership. Members of the Duke and surrounding community are invited to attend.

Save the Date: Advancing Excellence in Research Symposium
April 28
Trent Semans Center Great Hall

This symposium will bring the School of Medicine and the broader community together for conversations at the intersection of science and culture. Featuring keynote speaker Rebekah Layton, PhD, CMC, PCC, associate chair of education and training in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at UNC-Chapel Hill. The symposium’s theme is “Effectively Defining our Work in an Evolving Landscape.” Sponsored by the Office for Culture, Engagement, and Impact.

February Holidays and Observances

All month: Black History Month

February 1-2: Tu BiShvat

February 17-March19: Ramadan

February 17: Lunar New Year

February 18: Ash Wednesday

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