Meet Physicians and Scientists

A career dedicated to improving health in partnership with communities has culminated in a transformational gift by Duke University School of Medicine Professor Emeritus J. Lloyd Michener, MD, to carry forward work that he and his wife, the late Gwendolyn C. Murphy, PhD, championed for years.

Duke University has received a $30 million, 10-year grant from the Pritzker Children’s Initiative to improve maternal and early childhood health across North Carolina. The effort will bring together experts in clinical care, economics, policy, and public health — alongside families and communities — to create more connected, effective systems of care for pregnant women and young children.

A new $11.45 million award from the Nanaline H. Duke fund expands support at Duke for early-career physicians who also conduct research. The award will accelerate groundbreaking research that transforms patient care, while strengthening Duke’s role as a national leader in physician-scientist development, said Duke University President Vincent E. Price. 

New Director Esen K. Akpek, MD, will guide the next chapter of the Frances and Stephen Foster Center for Ocular Immunology, honoring the Fosters’ philanthropic partnership with Duke Eye Center and their unwavering dedication to advancing vision health worldwide.

Federal funding has provided crucial support for biomedical research at American universities for decades, fueling the innovation and discovery necessary to solve the biggest health challenges. This explainer video describes how research saves lives and how the process of research funding works.

Duke University Health System has established a new endowed clinical directorship to advance cancer care thanks to a $2.5 million gift from an anonymous couple with deep ties to Duke Health. The directorship will provide opportunities to innovate, mentor, engage in community health initiatives, build and enhance programs, and invest in technology.

Ever wonder what a day in the life of a researcher is like? Erica Washington, PhD, will show you around. She’s an assistant research professor in molecular genetics and microbiology at the Duke University School of Medicine, unraveling the mysteries of fungal biology that could yield new anti-fungal medications. But she’s also a dedicated mom and a star on the soccer field.

Stacy Waters, MBA, has been named the new vice president of Duke Health Development and Alumni Affairs (DHDAA), effective November 4, 2024.

Clinicians, researchers, and educators at Duke University School of Medicine and across Duke Health are using artificial intelligence (AI) to schedule surgeries more efficiently, give students immediate feedback on academic writing, and help speed up drug discovery.

School of Medicine Dean Mary E. Klotman, MD, announced this week that Duke’s first Presidential Distinguished Chair will be named in honor of outgoing Chancellor for Health Affairs A. Eugene Washington, MD, and his wife, Marie.

The anonymous donor who established the inaugural Presidential Distinguished Chair in early 2021 said the gift was intended to support superb science and to honor the Washingtons. The professorship will be known as A. Eugene and Marie Washington Presidential Distinguished Chair.