Meet Physicians and Scientists

'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.

Most studies of new treatments don't reflect the diversity of people in the real world. That's a problem.

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.

James W. Mold, MD'74, MPH, a pioneer for the concept of patient-centered health care, was honored with a Distinguished Alumnus Award during the 2018 Duke Medical Alumni Reunion in November.

C. Frank Starmer, BSEE'63, G'65, PhD, who began his time at Duke University as an undergraduate electrical engineering major, helped Duke's legendary Chairman of Medicine Eugene Stead, MD, create the Duke Cardiovascular Database, which grew into the largest of its kind in the world.

John 'Jeb' Hallett, MD'73, is a pioneer in vascular surgery. His research into abdominal aortic aneurysms changed the face of modern vascular surgery. Hallett was honored with a Distinguished Alumnus Award during the 2018 Duke Medical Alumni Reunion in November.

Duke’s MD/PhD Program had a profound influence on David Ginsburg, who went on to become an international expert on several bleeding and clotting disorders.

When four Duke researchers developed an innovative technique for exploring the non-coding genome--the 98 percent of our DNA that does not encode protein sequences, often the genome's "dark matter"--the implications were clear.