Three scholars—Penelope Brown and Vinetta Garrett from Bennett College, and Ashauna McClendon from Saint Augustine’s University—are the first to join the inaugural Duke Building Academic Advancement Research Training Pathway to Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences (BAA-POCS). This groundbreaking program is funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders of the National Institutes of Health.
On Monday, June 2, the scholars, along with their Duke Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences (HNS&CS) mentors and program co-directors, Dr. Dennis Frank-Ito and Dr. Howard Francis, officially launched the 15-month mentored training experience. The program offers in-depth exposure to every subspecialty within Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences at Duke.
The BAA-POCS journey begins with a 10-week immersive summer session (Summer 1) at Duke, featuring clinical observation and a robust research training curriculum. During the academic year, scholars return to their home institutions but continue their training through a hybrid model with dedicated mentoring support. The program concludes with a second 10-week summer session (Summer 2) at Duke, focused on advanced research, tailored clinical experiences, and professional development.
BAA-POCS is a partnership initiative between these two HBCUs and Duke University aimed at expanding access for students to pursue careers in otolaryngology and communication sciences. The program emphasizes academic readiness, identity reinforcement, and relationship-building, creating a holistic and sustainable model for professional development.
Learn more about the BAA-POCS program here.