After over a decade of service, Allan D. Kirk, MD, PhD, will be stepping down as chair of the Department of Surgery effective June 30, 2025. Dr. Kirk will continue his invaluable contributions to the School of Medicine as the David C. Sabiston, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Surgery.
Dr. Kirk’s career began at Duke, where he earned his MD and PhD in immunology. He completed his surgical residency at Duke and a multi-organ transplant fellowship at the University of Wisconsin. His pioneering work in co-stimulation blockade and personalized immune management has been instrumental in advancing the field of organ transplantation. Throughout his career, Dr. Kirk has held numerous prestigious positions, including chief of transplant research for the Armed Services Transplant Service and chief of the intramural organ transplant program at the National Institutes of Health. Before returning to Duke in 2014 as chair of the Department of Surgery, he served as vice chair for surgical research at Emory University.
During his tenure as chair, Dr. Kirk has led the Department of Surgery through unparalleled clinical and academic growth. Under his visionary leadership, the department has recruited numerous esteemed surgeons and scientists, building nation-leading clinical programs in specialties such as organ transplantation and cardiac surgery. He fostered the creation of several new departments, including Neurosurgery, Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, Urology, and Emergency Medicine, and expanded Duke Surgery to the Greensboro area through a partnership with Central Carolina Surgery. He oversaw the creation of the perioperative clinical service line, standardizing surgical and anesthesiology leadership across Duke Health. He led the department through transformative events including the COVID-19 pandemic and the creation of the Duke Health Integrated Practice.
Dr. Kirk elevated the Duke surgical research program to lead the nation in NIH funding, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration and significantly growing research infrastructure. He established numerous programs to support the career development of surgeon scientists, resulting in multiple prestigious awards and fellowships for surgical trainees. Additionally, he launched innovative initiatives incorporating artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies into surgical practice, including the Surgical Black Box and the Surgical Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Lab.
We are committed to sustaining and building on the excellence Dr. Kirk has fostered in the Department of Surgery. A review of the department will be conducted in the coming weeks, and Gary Faerber, MD, chair of the Department of Urology, will lead a committee through a national search to identify Dr. Kirk’s successor. Dr. Kirk has graciously agreed to stay on as chair longer, if needed, to ensure a smooth transition in leadership.
We extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Kirk for his extraordinary leadership and dedication to advancing surgical science and practice. We look forward to his continued contributions to our community and the field of surgery.
Sincerely,
Mary E. Klotman, MD
Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, Duke University;
Dean, Duke University School of Medicine;
Chief Academic Officer, Duke Health
Craig Albanese, MD, MBA
Chief Executive Officer,
Duke University Health System