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In May, Duke PA faculty, students, and alumni attended the 2025 American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) conference in Denver, CO. Held annually, this conference gathers PAs and PA students from all across the country for a week filled with education, networking, and entertainment. Duke PA students came in energized and ready to showcase their leadership and passion for the profession. 

The Duke Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Division is happy to welcome Warren Lattimore, MDiv​​​​​​, to a full time position as assistant professor and Director of Student Affairs and Inclusive Excellence. A Chicago native with a deep appreciation for community, storytelling, and equity, Warren brings a powerful blend of lived experience, academic insight, and institutional knowledge to this pivotal role.

Our mission is to provide centralized services to support SOM students and others involved in the healthcare learning environment.  Check out our website.

We are excited to welcome Stephanie Parken, MS, OTR/L, CKTP, to the Duke Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) faculty as the Applied Practice Experience (APEx) Learning Support and Placement Specialist. With over 18 years of experience in pediatric occupational therapy across various settings—from schools and hospitals to homes and clinics in both the U.S. and Germany—Stephanie brings a wealth of knowledge, compassion, and a global perspective to her new role.

On July 7, Duke OTD hosted its annual OT Summer Discovery Day, a virtual event designed to introduce participants to the dynamic field of occupational therapy. More than 50 attendees from across the globe joined morning and afternoon sessions led by current students, faculty, and practitioners.

Lauren Valle, 2025 Duke graduate in biology, was the winner of this year’s Julia Harper Day Award for Documentary Studies (CDS), one of the university’s leading student awards in the arts. Valle’s capstone project, “Unseen Histories: Latinidad in Focus,” consists of large-format black-and-white portraits and personal narratives of 10 student activists. Shown here is Mariana Meza Mantilla, a rising senior, whose studies focus on the U.S.-Mexico border.

On June 26–27, Duke’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs came together to host the 4th Annual High School ImpACT Program. We welcomed eight students from City of Medicine Academy and Hillside High School for two days of hands-on learning, exploration, and connection centered around health, wellness, and the impactful roles of OTs and PTs in our communities.

The Duke Physician Assistant Program held its annual White Coat Ceremony on June 27. During the ceremony, 89 students from the class of 2026 received white coats, marking their transition from classroom learning to clinical training.

This month, we’re shifting from our admissions blog post to continue highlighting more of Duke PA students’ amazing volunteer work this year. Let’s take a look at the Joyce Health Fair.

The AAMC has several upcoming development opportunities that may be of interest to School of Medicine faculty and staff. These offerings complement internal programs and are led by expert facilitators who understand the academic medicine environment. Programs from the AAMC have received strong feedback from past participants.