Pamlico County (PC) is a beautiful rural, coastal county with about 15,000 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 4 clinics, largely staffed by FNPs and part-time physicians, but no hospital. 

During the last six academic years, a Bass team, multiple GH Capstone teams, and five SRT teams worked successfully with a variety of county partners, including a local charitable clinic, the PC Health Department, the Pamlico County Disaster Recovery Coalition (PCDRC), and HeartWorks, an NGO supporting socio-emotional and educational needs of underserved families. This year we will also likely partner with an innovative, community pharmacy. The community has fully embraced Duke SRT teams (as their testimonials reveal) and is committed to continuing the Duke-Pamlico Partnership for Rural Health, our University-County partnership that works to address local rural health care needs, access, and strengthen the rural health system to reduce health disparities. 

Project description: Students will work closely with faculty mentors and county partners to build on past work streams, co-develop new research, continue to strengthen relationships with current partners, and potentially extend to new partners within Pamlico and neighboring county organizations. 

Areas of student research and engagement will include some of the following, while others work areas will be co-designed with the community as needs and interest align:

1. Engage in on-going research project streams: 

• Develop and implement the 2027 Pamlico community health assessment (CHA) and apply recommendations and lessons learned from the Duke-PCHD 2024 CHA, including: development and continued assessment and expansion of Telehealth access (including specialists and mental health providers), use of community health workers (CHWs) as extenders of healthcare, and collaboration with Duke units like DSON and Duke Family Medicine
• Evaluate and further develop mobile outreach services, including integrating health coaches or CHWs. 
• Integrate environmental science, emergency management, and mental well-being in disaster readiness, including identification of factors promoting mental health resilience in communities prone to adverse weather events and continued development and evaluation of disaster mitigation model and intervention support systems. 
• Develop and deliver workshops and programming to support socio-emotional and life skills development offered by educational partner(s). 
• Develop return on investment metrics and calculations and support broader community care-net and health surveillance systems needed to address the critical care gaps
• Develop and implement an ongoing, multi-sectoral NC Rural Hypertension Pilot

2. Help develop and lead current new opportunities: 

• Develop research and service assessment with a pharmacy-based chronic disease case management program, including exploration and development of whole-person, integrated care and case management model, linking clinical and behavioral health care and support
• Develop outreach strategies to neighboring counties to identify potential partners.  Examine how rural counties can create an aligned, multi-county coalition for larger presence with policymakers and improve ability to advocate for, attract, and competitively access more resources. 
• Expand on research started with the vibrant Community Paramedic Program.

2. Support the on-going 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, with particular attention to capturing impact of health policy changes disproportionality impacting rural communities
• Write articles with local partners like the health department (PCHD) and Disaster Coalition (PCDRC) to educate and empower academic and local populations on ways university-community partnerships can improve health outcomes
• Conduct literature reviews, help identify and write grants, and support development of the data-management systems needed across county leadership and health partners. 

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
• 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 written and oral communication skills
• High professionalism and cultural respect & sensitivity in working with peers, 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. 

Learn more about this project from a member of the 2026 team HERE.