Duke's Bold Vision for Health Technology

At Duke University, a groundbreaking initiative is bridging the gap between engineering and medicine, creating cutting-edge solutions for the most pressing health care challenges. Jerome Lynch, the Vinik Dean of Engineering, emphasizes, "Duke’s rich history of collaboration makes it the ideal place to tackle problems in health care that others simply cannot." With the School of Engineering just a stone's throw away from the School of Medicine, the synergy between these disciplines is both lively and productive.

Transforming Tomorrow's Medicine Today

The researchers at this new center are already making waves in the medical field with their innovative approaches. Maria Gorlatova is pioneering augmented reality tools that guide surgeons precisely to target areas within a patient’s body, transforming surgical precision. Meanwhile, Jessilyn Dunn and her team at the Big Ideas Lab are harnessing wearables and advanced computational tools to convert vast data into actionable health insights, available in real-time.

Cameron McIntyre and his team are elevating neurosurgery through the development of advanced visual software that uses holographic technology and head-mounted displays, offering a revolutionary way to visualize complex procedures. The Randles Lab pushes the envelope further by using supercomputers to explore disease mechanisms and enhance surgical planning in immersive environments.

Empowering Future Innovators in Health Care

Beyond research, the center is committed to enhancing education in computational and digital health. Regular seminars, both in-person and virtual, engage participants in understanding and utilizing new technologies. With upcoming tech roundtables on the horizon, the goal is to equip clinicians with insights on deploying AI effectively, as well as to prepare engineers to address real-world applications of their innovations.

Excitingly, a new certificate program has been approved, allowing Duke graduate students from diverse disciplines—including Engineering, Arts & Sciences, and Medicine—to deepen their skills and knowledge in this evolving field, with enrollment kicking off this year.

A Vision for the Future of Health Care

As Randles puts it, "We’ve created an atmosphere where truly interdisciplinary work can thrive to tackle the toughest health care challenges. This is what the future of health care looks like." With such promising research and collaborative spirit, Duke’s new center is set to redefine how technology meets medicine, providing invaluable contributions to the future of health care.