Inspirational Stories

Created in memory of Bobby Menges by his parents, Liz and Peter, the I’m Not Done Yet Foundation has surpassed $1 million in gifts to Duke Health and transformed how the Duke Cancer Institute supports young people with cancer.

Duke Health has received a $4.5 million award from The Duke Endowment to support groundbreaking work to understand and address the health impacts of climate change in the Carolinas.

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.

When Carole Ryan lost her daughter Suzanne to a brain tumor, she turned grief into action. Through more than $4 million in gifts, including a recent $2.5 million planned gift, Carole is advancing groundbreaking research at Duke Health in Suzanne’s memory.

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.

The Bedford Falls Foundation has committed $250,000 to support the Duke University School of Nursing Master of Nursing (MN) program clinical immersion experience.

The Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) and Duke Health mourn the passing of David H. Murdock, a visionary philanthropist and the namesake of the MURDOCK Study, who died at the age of 102.

Sarah Rose Smale has been a patient of Sharon Freedman, MD, for almost 20 years. During that time, Freedman has helped the family preserve as much of Sarah Rose’s sight as possible and has guided them through multiple chronic and acute eye conditions, often from afar. In appreciation, Angela and Leonard Smale have been generous supporters of Freedman's research.

Congratulations to the 442 students from the Duke University School of Medicine who graduated on Sunday, May 11, 2025, marking the successful culmination of their hard work and dedication.

Professor of Medicine Michael Hershfield's research has transformed the lives of patients with rare immunodeficiencies and treatment-resistant gout. Now he's made a philanthropic gift to support early career physician-scientists at Duke.