Since its founding in 2017, SALUD has grown in both scale and scope, becoming part of Duke’s Bass Connections Education & Human Development theme. What began as a one-week program has expanded into a multi-session curriculum focused on the social determinants of health and educational disparities.
As the program has evolved, SALUD’s team has raised over $40,000, collaborated with 25+ Duke and community partners, and served dozens of students across Durham County. Each year, our students choose to spend their Saturdays with us, a commitment we honor by creating a program that empowers them to pursue their goals and become changemakers in their communities.
Over the past decade, Durham and its public schools have experienced a significant increase in Latinx families and students. Nationally, Latinxs make up 18% of the U.S. population but receive only 4.5% of awarded science and engineering doctoral degrees. SALUD works to address these disparities by empowering Durham students of all backgrounds to explore health careers and contribute to improving healthcare outcomes in their communities.
SALUD’s journey over time is reflected in the students who have shaped the program from the very beginning to today.
SALUD’s Founding Cohort (2017)
The first group of SALUD scholars who helped launch the program’s journey in Durham.
SALUD’s Most Recent Cohort (2025)
Continuing the program’s mission of empowering Durham students through health, leadership, and community engagement.
