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The National Clinician Scholars Program (NCSP), an interdisciplinary, community-partnered research program for physicians and nurses, has added a new institution to its prestigious consortium: Duke University. “Duke is the perfect site to join us at this time,” said Linda Sarna, PhD, RN, FAAN, national board chair for the NCSP and dean of the UCLA School of Nursing. “They already have a strong community focus, and their nursing and medical schools are ranked among the top in the country.”

Though their purpose and function are still largely unknown, mirror neurons in the brain are believed by some neuroscientists to be central to how humans relate to each other. Deficiencies in mirror neurons might also play a role in autism and other disorders affecting social skills. A computer monitor in Duke University lab of Miguel Nicolelis, M.D., Ph.D., displays one monkey’s brain activity. (FILE PHOTO: Shawn Rocco/Duke Health)

American healthcare has a dominant, traditional paradigm: we go to the doctor, see him or her for a few minutes, get advice and prescriptions, and then we don’t see them again for weeks to years. While this is effective at preventing certain conditions and treating specific health problems, it is difficult to overstate how much of our health is not taken into account during these brief encounters.

For women, stroke is both more dangerous and more complicated than it is for men. Women are at greater risk than men for having and dying from a stroke. Being a woman also brings unique health concerns, such as risk spiking during certain life events, and having to balance questions about risk with quality of life and family planning concerns. In the fourth entry in our Neurology and Women’s Health series, Jodi Dodds, MD, talks about these issues and what women can do about them.

Researchers say the vaccine could be effective against multiple strains of the virus for several years. The Duke Early Phase Clinical Research (DEPRU) recently completed the first study cohort for a broad-spectrum investigational influenza vaccine that has the potential to be effective against multiple strains of the virus for five or more years at a time.

Twice a year the Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) Medical Honor Society elects a small number of new members. The criteria include scholastic achievement, leadership capabilities, ethical standards, fairness in dealing with colleagues, demonstrated professionalism, achievement and/or potential for achievement in medicine, and a record of service to the school and community at large. Membership in AΩA is a distinction that accompanies a physician throughout his or her career. 

On Saturday, March 17, students from the Doctor of Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, and Doctor of Medicine programs at Duke University gathered at the Brodie Gym to participate in the annual Adaptive Sports Experience.

A spectrum of factors influence women’s health, and neurology is no exception. At the biological level, sex differences such as hormonal changes during menarche, pregnancy, and menopause, and subtle influences sex hormones have on gene expression may affect symptoms and onset of Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and other conditions. Cultural mores mean that women do most of the caregiving for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease, even as they are at greater risk than men for developing the condition.

Treatment is complicated for anyone with epilepsy, but especially so for women, with pregnancy, family planning, and health concerns such as osteoporosis all affecting the treatment that may be best for any one woman. Fortunately, many options are available, and epilepsy does not have to prevent a woman from leading a fulfilling life or having a healthy pregnancy.

Women bear most of the burden of Alzheimer’s disease, not only making up most of the patients with the condition but also doing most of the demanding work of caring for Alzheimer’s patients.