Kimberly Coston

Why I Chose Duke Engineering

I wanted a graduate program that would let me combine design, technology, and business rather than choosing just one domain. Duke’s Design, Technology & Innovation (DTI) program stood out because it offered that blend while also creating space to explore different career directions, from entrepreneurship to industry. Having already completed my nursing degree here, I had experienced firsthand the resources, community and support Duke provides, and I wasn’t ready to give that up.

What made the DTI program stand out even more was how personalized it felt from the start. That level of support, especially from the program director Vivek Rao, stood out compared to the other schools I was accepted to. I was also drawn to Duke’s graduate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate, which adds another layer of opportunity as I explore where I can make the biggest impact. On a more practical note, I was fortunate to continue working as a nurse at Duke Health while pursuing this degree, which made it the right choice both personally and logistically.

Before Duke Engineering

Before starting this program, I earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and worked at a behavioral health hospital for a few years. Later, I came to Duke for nursing school, and it was there that I realized the frustrations I’d experienced weren’t unique to one hospital; instead, they were systemic to healthcare. Once I began my career as a nurse, I saw how often staff relied on workarounds to make things function, and I started thinking about how those workarounds could be transformed into real solutions rather than daily struggles.

A turning point for me was discovering Duke’s Innovation Co-Lab during nursing school. I took every class I could, learning design and prototyping tools from scratch, and found it energizing to create solutions rather than just deal with problems. I stayed active in the Co-Lab community even after graduation, and the staff there played a huge role in supporting me as I built new skills. That experience planted the seed for pursuing DTI as the next step.

After Duke Engineering

After completing the program, my goal is to pursue a career at the intersection of nursing and design engineering, with a focus on improving efficiency in healthcare. I’m especially driven to address the daily frustrations that slow down care, whether that comes from inefficient systems, cumbersome workflows or technology that was never designed with clinicians in mind. I’m open to pursuing this work in different ways, including roles with a large med-tech company, within a healthcare system where I can stay close to the problems or through an entrepreneurial path.

5 Mindsets for Thriving in the Program

1. Collaboration beats competition. In undergrad, it’s easy to feel pressure to compete for grades, internships and recognition. In grad school, the strength of the program comes from seeing your classmates as collaborators. Their skills will complement yours in ways you can’t predict, and ideas are always stronger when everyone brings their expertise to the table.
2. Every yes costs something. Grad school offers endless opportunities, whether it’s projects, events or collaborations. Saying yes can lead to incredible experiences and growth, but each yes also comes with a tradeoff in time, energy or focus. Recognizing that cost helps you commit to the things that matter most and prevents you from stretching yourself too thin.
3. Value synthesis, not just specialization. The world has no shortage of experts. The real opportunity lies in being an integrator. This program gives you a broad toolkit across disciplines, which not only allows you to connect ideas for yourself but also prepares you to bridge knowledge between people and fields. In the end, your value isn’t just in what you know, but in how you connect what others know.
4. Learner first, student second. It’s easy to slip into a mindset where the goal is to finish the assignment and check the box. But if you only focus on completing tasks, you risk missing the deeper understanding that will matter long after the program ends. Being a learner means working through problems even when shortcuts (e.g. AI) exist. Prioritize deep understanding over short-term efficiency.
5. See beyond the deadlines. Graduate school can pull you into the weeds of projects and deliverables, but deadlines aren’t the whole story. Step back often to reconnect with the bigger purpose that brought you here. Keeping that broader view makes the work more meaningful and helps you push through when the pace feels overwhelming.

Check out Kim’s spotlight feature in Duke Engineering News.