The department of head and neck surgery and communication sciences at Duke University School of Medicine has recently received funding from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders to increase diversity in the field of otolaryngology and communication sciences.
The new funding will support Duke’s “Black or African-American research training Pathway to Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences” program, which aims to increase the representation of Black scientists in otolaryngology through enhancing the preparedness of Black undergraduate scholars for successful careers in the field.
Set to launch in January 2025, the program opens the door for undergraduate students at two North Carolina-based HBCUs – Bennett College in Greensboro and Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh – to receive research training and mentorship opportunities with Duke faculty. Participating students will be provided with professional development guidance and social support designed to prepare them for advanced graduate studies and successful careers after graduation.
