Meet Physicians and Scientists

National cancer databases provide a ton of valuable information for researchers, but institutional data is often more granular, including details such as specific chemotherapy regimens, radiation doses, treatment durations, and recurrence rates. The Duke Breast Database (DB2), a big data initiative, is invaluable for health researchers like Oluwadamilola “Lola” Fayanju, MD, assistant professor of surgery and the principal investigator for the database.

Heather Whitson, MD, HS’01-’04, takes the reins at the Duke Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development as Harvey Cohen, MD, HS’65-’67, ’69-’71, steps down after almost four decades.

Three leading researchers team up to explore new targets in the search for the origins of Parkinson’s disease.

With sepsis, time is of the essence. Left untreated, the illness—a runaway immune response to infection—can quickly become life-threatening. Duke hospital medicine physician Cara O’Brien, MD, is partnering with the Duke Institute for Health Innovation to lead a multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, and biostatisticians that is using data science to rapidly identify at-risk patients, speed treatment, and improve outcomes.

Two pediatric heart specialists have made it their mission to improve the lives of some of Duke's most vulnerable patients.

Through the Regeneration Next Initiative, Duke researchers are gaining insights into how to stimulate heart muscle to regrow after injury.

'Big Data' is transforming medicine, and Duke is at the forefront

A team led by Manesh Patel, MD, chief of the Division of Cardiology and co-director of Duke Heart, is creating computer algorithms that can analyze angiogram images in real time to identify significant blockages and abnormalities and help guide treatment decisions.

Patrick J. Casey, PhD, a faculty member at both the Duke University School of Medicine in Durham and Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore, was honored with a 2018 Distinguished Faculty Award during Medical Alumni Reunion in November.

Michael M. Haglund, MD, PhD, a gifted neurosurgeon and life-long humanitarian, launched and runs a partnership between Duke University School of Medicine and three hospitals in Uganda. Haglund's program donates used Duke medical equipment to the Uganda hospitals and trains the next generation of Ugandan neurosurgeons. Haglund was honored with the Humanitarian Award during the 2018 Duke Medical Alumni Reunion in November.