Inspiring Future Generations

For 50 years, Duke Regional Hospital (DRH) has been a place of hope, health, and healing. As we celebrate a half-century of caring for our neighbors, we also recognize the ways our team members inspire, educate, and prepare future generations. One of the most meaningful ways we do that is by opening our doors to local youth and giving them a firsthand look at healthcare.

Opening Doors to Healthcare Careers

Each summer, DRH welcomes local students to campus through a variety of educational and career exploration programs. For two consecutive years, DRH has hosted Duke Health’s Youth Symposium on Healthcare Careers, a two-day immersive experience designed to introduce students to the wide range of careers available in healthcare.

During the symposium, students explore departments throughout the hospital, gaining firsthand insight into the teamwork, technology, and innovation behind patient care. They participate in hands-only CPR training and service projects, meet healthcare professionals, and hear personal stories. For the team members who participate, the experience is just as rewarding.

Creating Pathways Through Project SEARCH

Our commitment to young people extends beyond summer programs. For the past 15 years, DRH has been a host business for Project SEARCH, helping young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities build workplace and career-readiness skills.

The program reflects Duke Regional's belief that every member of our community deserves the opportunity to build meaningful skills, gain employment experience, and achieve independence. Through Project SEARCH, we're helping create pathways to success while fostering a more inclusive workforce throughout our region.

As the first hospital in North Carolina to offer the program, DRH has supported 117 students and welcomes up to 10 interns each year. Through classroom learning and hands-on internships, Durham Public School participants in their senior year of high school gain practical experience while developing communication, teamwork, and workplace skills. Just as importantly, they become part of the Duke Regional team.

This program would not be possible without the team members who invest their time, encouragement, and expertise in our interns or the community partners who help make the program successful. We are grateful for the continued partnership with Durham Public Schools, Alliance Health, OE Enterprises, and the North Carolina Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities.

Caring Beyond Our Walls

At DRH, our commitment to the community extends far beyond the care we provide inside our hospital. Whether supporting local schools, preparing students for future careers or helping families during the holiday season, we are committed to strengthening the health and well-being of the community we proudly call home.

For more than 10 years, Duke Regional team members have participated in Crayons2Calculators’ annual Fill That Bus School Drive, helping provide Durham Public Schools students and teachers with essential supplies and resources as they prepare for a new school year.

During the winter, that spirit of giving continues through our partnership with The Salvation Army of Durham, Orange and Person Counties and its Angel Tree Gift Program. Team members come together to fulfill children’s holiday wish lists and bring joy to local families. These acts of community impact reflect something bigger: our belief that a healthier community begins with investing in its people.

A Legacy That Looks to the Future

For 50 years, Duke Regional Hospital has provided compassionate, high-quality, and safe care for generations of families across Durham and the surrounding region. Our legacy is measured not only by the care we provide to patients, but also by the relationships we build, the opportunities we create, and the lives we touch beyond our hospital walls.

When we welcome students to our campus, mentor young adults through career experiences, support educators and invest in local schools, we are doing more than celebrating our history. We are helping shape what comes next.

To all of our team members and community partners who continue to share their expertise and make these experiences possible: thank you. Because a legacy built on care isn’t only about looking back at where we’ve been; it’s about helping the next generation imagine where they can go.