The Health Profession Recruitment and Exposure Program (HPREP) is an in-person program held annually from January to May, consisting of eight biweekly sessions from 9 a.m. to noon at Duke University School of Medicine’s Trent Semans Center for Health Education.
HPREP works to:
- Provide exposure to the vast opportunities available in health professions.
- Facilitate meaningful interactions between high school students, medical students, and faculty from medical institutions.
- Raise awareness of the unique healthcare challenges faced by minority and economically disadvantaged communities.
- Strengthen students’ motivation to pursue careers in the sciences through intellectual and sociocultural experiences.
- Offer guidance on college survival skills, the premedical curriculum, and preparation for the college application process.
Program activities include:
- Team-based project: Participants are placed in teams and paired with mentors to complete a health-related research project. At the closing ceremony, teams present their projects in front of a panel of judges and receive formal feedback.
- Health career exposure: Duke faculty, residents, and students from various health professions (medicine, physician’s assistant, nursing, physical and occupational therapy) lead skills sessions and case presentations to expose students to a breadth of health professions. Past sessions have included hands-on experiences such as a skills session with Duke Anesthesiology, CPR training with Duke EMS, Stop the Bleed training with Duke Emergency Medicine, and a neuroscience day with the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences.
- College preparedness: Group discussions cover topics such as professional email etiquette, requesting letters of recommendation, professional dress, and more. Duke undergraduate volunteers share insights on the college application process, scholarships, financial aid, and academic success.
- Speaking and interview skills: Participants engage in mock interviews and refine public speaking through their final research presentations.
- Writing and resumes: A dedicated workshop focuses on personal statements and resumes, with students receiving structured feedback on their submissions.
Eligibility:
This program is for high school students who:
- Are in grades 9–11
- Demonstrate a strong interest in biomedical sciences, medical fields, health care sciences, or potential careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)
- Can attend at least six out of eight sessions
Contact information and program support:
For questions, contact DukeHPREP@gmail.com.
This program is housed within Duke University School of Medicine and funded by the Multicultural Resource Center.
