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New US News and World Report rankings for medical schools again place Duke University School of Medicine among the top 10 medical schools in the nation. Duke tied for 8th with Columbia University. Five of Duke’s medical education specialty programs also were ranked in the top 10: 3rd        Geriatrics 4th        Internal Medicine 8th        AIDS 9th        Women’s Health 9th        Family medicine

A multi-institutional team, led by Darell Bigner, MD, PhD, director of the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation Institute, has been named recipient of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Team Science Award. The  award recognizes an outstanding interdisciplinary research team for its innovative and meritorious scientific work that has advanced or will likely advance cancer research, detection, diagnosis, prevention or treatment.

David L. Epstein, MD, the Joseph A.C. Wadsworth Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology and chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, passed away on March 4, 2014.Eye Center Ground Breaking04.20.2012 Dr. Epstein served as chair for the last 22 years, building and leading an outstanding community of ophthalmologists and vision scientists. Under his leadership, the department grew to include its current team of 73 faculty members and more than 300 staff members.

Sally Kornbluth, a prominent cell biologist with long experience leading academic programs, has been named provost at Duke University, President Richard H. Brodh029913_kornbluth012ead announced Monday. Kornbluth is currently James B. Duke Professor in the department of pharmacology and cancer biology at Duke and the vice dean for basic science in Duke’s School of Medicine. She will succeed Peter Lange, who is stepping down on June 30 after 15 years in the position. Her appointment was approved this weekend by the Board of Trustees.

Allan D. Kirk, MD, PhD, FACS, will join the Duke University School of Medicine as chair of the Department of Surgery, and surgeon-in-chief for the Duke University Health System. He will assume his new roles on May 1, 2014.

Victor J. Dzau, M.D., chancellor for health affairs at Duke University and president and chief executive officer for the Duke University Health System, has been named president of the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Dzau will be leaving Duke on June 30, 2014, and will succeed current IOM president Harvey V. Fineberg, M.D., Ph.D., effective July 1, 2014.

Mark F. Newman, MD, the Merel H. Harmel Professor of Anesthesiology and chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, will step down from his position as chair on April 1, 2014, to become president of the Duke Private Diagnostic Clinic, LLC (PDC). He will succeed Carl Ravin, MD, who has served as the PDC’s first president since October of 2008.

Iain Sanderson, BM, BCh, has been named Vice Dean for Research Informatics for the School of Medicine. This new title reflects Dr. Sanderson’s outstanding contributions to the School of Medicine as well as his expanding responsibilities.

Samuel Katz, M.D., Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, is the recipient of the 2014 John P. McGovern Compleat Physician Award. The national award is presented annually by the Houston Academy of Medicine to recognize a physician who exemplifies the ideals of Dr. William Osler—medical excellence, humane and ethical care, commitment to medical humanities and writing, research, and harmony between the academic and medical practitioner.

Rebecca Buckley, M.D., the James Buren Sidbury Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics and Professor in the Department of Immunology, has been awarded the 2014 Howland Medal Award. The John Howland Award, considered the highest award of the American Pediatric Society, has been given since 1952 to honor those who, by their contribution to pediatrics, have aided in its advancement.