Applications for Spring 2023 are now closed. Applications for DH1 will open in April.
Opportunities in the program open each semester:
In Design Health 1: Discover (FALL), fellows focus on aspects of upstream marketing, particularly needs-finding in the clinical environment using tools such as observational research and interviewing. Students work closely with Duke University Health System staff and may participate in needs-finding in the hospital environment; as such hospital policies around vaccinations, safety & confidentiality training will be required. Students participating in DH1 will need to be in the Durham area for clinical observations.
In Design Health 2: Design (SPRING), fellows take the validated, unmet needs found in Design Health 1 and generate solutions/concepts to meet these needs. Fellows engage in prototyping products and business models, and learn the basics of IP, regulatory, clinical, and manufacturing strategies.
In Design Health 3: Deploy (FALL), fellows work on a need and solution that has already been identified by an interdisciplinary team. They prototype, refine, and test the solution, and create business strategies to deploy the product into the market. At the end of this course, students will have a product and business plan ready to seek external funding. Clinical observation is not required for this phase, though we do encourage (not require) participants to be in-person to prototype and test the product in our design facilities.
Eligibility
The program is seeking applicants from:
- School of Medicine (residents, fellows, and third-year medical students)
- School of Nursing (all programs)
- Pratt School of Engineering (graduate students)
- Trinity School (graduate students)
- Law School
- Fuqua School of Business (1st year (second semester only) and 2nd year MBA students)
Exceptional Juniors and Seniors with design or product development experience may also be considered for Spring (Design Health 2). PhD students and medical trainees will require the permission of their department to participate.
All prospective participants should be willing to commit five to ten hours each week. Participants will receive coaching from experts in medicine, innovation product development processes, entrepreneurship and engineering both internal and external to Duke. Individuals should not enter the program with a specific need or solution in mind; they must be willing to explore several opportunities through a structured discovery process.
Have Questions?
Send an email anytime to designhealth@duke.edu
