A new WRAL report highlights how Duke Health’s Sports Medicine program—powered by Duke Orthopaedics faculty, physicians, and therapists—is transforming care for Durham-area high school athletes by bringing hospital‑level expertise directly to the sidelines. The program embeds sports medicine clinicians at local sporting events, where they deliver immediate, holistic injury care and help reduce unnecessary emergency room visits. The need is growing: more than 212,000 high school athletes across North Carolina participated in sports during the 2024–25 school year, the highest number in more than a decade.
Duke providers collectively volunteer 6,000 hours each year across Durham, Wake, and Orange counties, ensuring athletes have rapid access to splinting, bracing, imaging coordination, medication management, and same‑ or next‑day follow‑up care. Their presence has proven critical for injured athletes like Southern High School dual‑sport student Jordan Dillon, who credits Duke clinicians with guiding him through imaging, treatment, and rehab after a severe ankle ligament injury—and returning him to the field “110%” stronger.
Athletic trainers across the region say the Duke partnership has dramatically elevated what is possible for high school programs. Jordan High School’s head athletic trainer, Brett Treco, noted that having Duke clinicians onsite allows athletes who don’t require EMS transport to be evaluated within 24 hours—a level of care previously reserved for collegiate programs. The continuity extends beyond the moment of injury, with physical therapists helping families navigate care and avoid unnecessary ER visits.
“When an athlete goes down—whether it’s a cardiac event, a spine injury, or a fracture—we’re right there to intervene, stabilize, and potentially save a life. Immediate care matters. Many of these injuries can lead to significant disability if the right steps aren’t taken quickly, and our presence on the sidelines means we can act in seconds, not hours.” — Harry Stafford Jr., MD, CSCS, MBA, clinical instructor of Family Medicine; Associate Director, Duke Sports Science Institute; Director, Sports Performance.