Duke Department of Dermatology :: Residency Program

Residency Program

Duke and Durham

The Durham area has been rated as one of the nation's best urban areas to live. The 2000 Money magazine rating list ranked the Durham area as the fourth best in the South. This rating was based on multiple categories such as climate, housing, low crime, education, arts and recreation.

Durham is located in the Piedmont area of North Carolina near the Research Triangle Park. This area has had dynamic growth with low unemployment and rapid development. The Research Triangle Park is a 6,500 acre campus for research-oriented industries, governmental research and regulatory agencies. Forty-six research institutions and fifty-five support firms are located in the park. The area has a greater per capita concentration of Ph.D. scientists and engineers than any other metropolitan area.

The temperate climate accommodates outdoor activities nearly all year round. The Blue Ridge Mountains are located 3 hours to the west with camping and skiing. The Atlantic Ocean is 2.5 hours to the east offering beaches and fishing. Two large recreational lakes (Kerr Lake and Jordan Lake) are within an hour's drive of Durham.

The area has four universities within an hour’s drive, and sporting events and outdoor activities are plentiful:

Duke University, Durham
North Carolina Central University, Durham
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
North Carolina State University, Raleigh

The area offers many cultural activities. Please refer to Duke University’s web page on Duke and Durham or the official Durham website for details.

Housing is moderately plentiful and suitable housing can be readily found. Current residents and listings in the Duke House Staff Office have been most helpful to incoming personnel. Schools are among the best in the state. Private schools are available from kindergarten through grade twelve, but the demand is high and applications should be made well in advance.