Pamlico County (PC) is a beautiful rural, coastal county with about 13,000 residents, a high rate of chronic diseases, many elderly individuals, and a significant proportion living in poverty. It is also prone to hurricanes and flooding, making disaster readiness and response critical. The County has a limited primary healthcare system of 3 clinics but no hospital.  

During the last four academic years, a Bass team, GH Capstone teams, and three SRT teams worked very successfully with a variety of county partners, including a local charitable clinic, the PC Health Department, the Pamlico County Disaster Response Coalition (PCDRC), and an NGO supporting socio-emotional and educational needs of underserved families.  This work has resulted in the community’s desire to continue developing a longer-term University-County partnership addressing local rural health care needs, access, and systems development.  

Project description: Students will work closely with faculty mentors and county leaders to build on and extend past work streams, continue strengthening relationships with current partners, community members, and potential new partners within Pamlico and possibly neighboring county organizations.  

 Areas of student research and engagement include but are not limited to: 

• Identification and documentation of disparities in health status, outcomes, and access to care within the rural population. Investigate the ‘hidden diversity’ often present in rural communities and its implications for strengths and inequities.  Writing articles with local health department (PCHD) to educate academic and local populations on ways university-community partnerships can improve local health outcomes 
• Working with PCHD to implement findings and recommendations from the Duke-PCHD team’s analysis of the 2024 community health assessment, apply for grants, and support health advocacy within and across the county.  
• Data collection and support for an ongoing NC Rural Hypertension Study 
• Building on the care gap results started by previous SRT teams, investigate populations that may be lost-to-care as well as those not being served currently by local health care options.  
• Continued data collection and evaluation of Mobile outreach services with our partner clinic, including examining the use of CHWs and integrating other health worker streams such as nurses from the DSON.  
• Continue integration of environmental science, emergency management, and public health in disaster readiness and response 
• Continuing work on a program monitoring, evaluation and development of socio-emotional support services with civic organization partners.  
• Continue and expand on previous work and research the team has started with the vibrant Community Paramedic Program.   
• Literature review and proposed application of frugal innovations, digital technology, and innovative apps for chronic disease management 
• Examining how rural counties can create an aligned, multi-county coalition to have a larger presence with policymakers and attract more resources than their individual, small populations are able.  

The team will work closely with Faculty leads, previous SRT teams, and county partners over the Spring semester. There will also be opportunities for the team to engage in clinical shadowing, assisting with the identification and development of grant proposals, and volunteering in county health tasks and fairs. 

Selection criteria:

 We are looking for students with: 

• Desire and dedication to address inequities and disparities in rural healthcare  
• Interest in alternative delivery models of care, especially for chronic care and seniors 
• Interest in applying frugal and digital innovation in a rural community 
• Interest in health policy and developing models that support capacity building and sustainable transfer of implementation to local leadership. 
• Knowledge (course or experience) in research methods, data collection, and statistical analysis helpful 
• Interest and/or experience in academic writing and publishing helpful 
• Ability to work virtually, but when opportunity presents, to travel to Pamlico and meet the community partners and local residents 
• Open to diverse cultural perspectives and working with people across a spectrum of ages, educational backgrounds, races and religious beliefs 
• Self-motivated learner, with excellent project management, organizational, teamwork and communication skills 
• High professionalism and cultural respect & sensitivity in working with community co-workers and leaders, health workers, and NGO supervisors. 

Prior experience with any community-based organizations, community-based care delivery, community surveys, quantitative analyses, qualitative focus groups or key informant interviews, as well as experience with digital innovations in health care delivery a PLUS! 

Application Process:  

Please see the SRT website for information about how to apply. Any questions regarding the application, interview dates or general project information should be directed to Lysa MacKeen or Emilee Kerr.