The Duke University School of Medicine has announced the 2026 Michelle P. Winn Inclusive Excellence Awards honoring individuals and teams who have made significant contributions to inclusive excellence over the past year. This year’s recipients have driven meaningful impact across a range of areas — tackling cardiovascular health disparities, building trusted relationships with community partners, addressing social determinants of health in anesthesia graduate medical education, and strengthening connection and wellness across Duke’s health professions programs.

On April 20, 101 students accepted a spot in the incoming freshman class at the Durham Early College of Health Sciences (DECHS) during a special signing day celebration. The school is an innovative partnership among Durham Public Schools, Durham Tech, and Duke Health, supported by a $29.5 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies. Students at DECHS will graduate with their high school diploma while earning an associate degree or workforce credentials — at no cost. Signing Day has become an annual tradition welcoming the incoming class with a celebration similar to events held for high school athletes when they sign a commitment to play college sports.

For older adults who are homebound or those who have disabilities, it can be nearly impossible to make it to clinical and specialty appointments. Duke University medical students launched a first-of-its-kind telehealth program that transformed the way primary care was delivered to low-income older, homebound adults, and those with disabilities in Durham.

Two Duke University School of Medicine students are among the 31 graduate students recently named 2026-27 North Carolina Albert Schweitzer Fellows. During the fellowship, the students will develop and implement service projects that address the root causes of health disparities in under-resourced communities, while also fulfilling their academic responsibilities. Each project is implemented in collaboration with a community-based organization.

Nicole Miller thought medical school was going to be all books and studying, but she is also passionate about her work with the Durham community. She is active through Duke’s Root Causes, a medical student organization striving to address social drivers of health. In this video, she discusses Duke’s relationship building with Durham.

In celebration of Autism Acceptance Month, the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development invited Holden Thorp, PhD, to deliver the keynote seminar in the 2025-2026 Autism Seminar Series. Drawing on research and lived experience, Thorp explored how academic and healthcare communities can adapt social and professional environments to help autistic people flourish. In the talk, he shared a model for autistic flourishing grounded in alignment, adaptation, and accommodation.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The Duke AAPI Affinity Group is hosting several events throughout the month to celebrate the culture, history, and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Events are open to all.