To: Duke University School of Medicine faculty and staff
From: Mary E. Klotman, MD, Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, Duke University; Dean, Duke University School of Medicine; Chief Academic Officer, Duke Health
Subject: New Executive Vice Dean Appointments
I am pleased to announce the promotion of two of our current vice deans to new executive vice dean positions effective November 1, 2024. Colin Duckett, PhD, will serve as executive vice dean for basic and preclinical science, and Geeta Swamy, MD, will serve as executive vice dean for clinical sciences and research administration.
After thorough discussions with our team, we identified the need for changes in our organizational structure to achieve operational efficiencies in service to our units within the School of Medicine and better position us for future success. This is particularly timely as we recruit to fill the roles of executive vice dean for administration and vice dean for administration, clinical department support, following the retirements of Scott Gibson and Billy Newton next year. Additionally, with the development of the Duke Health Integrated Practice (DHIP), the responsibilities of these roles have grown exponentially, signaling the need to reassess current practices. While administrative duties will be realigned to achieve operational efficiency as we better support the school’s goals, current reporting structures will not change.
In his expanded role, Dr. Duckett will oversee operations around research, training, and resource management for the School of Medicine’s basic science departments and basic science-oriented research centers and institutes. He will implement strategies developed within the school and with the university to maintain Duke’s leading position in basic and preclinical research, ensure alignment with our missions, and manage basic research infrastructure needs. He will collaborate with the basic science chairs and chairs of clinical departments on basic science research initiatives, research space planning, HR issues, and core resources management and planning.
Dr. Swamy’s expanded role will oversee central operations aligned with the clinical departments and research centers and institutes most closely aligned with the clinical faculty. She will facilitate research priorities in collaboration with clinical chairs and vice chairs. Additionally, she will continue to manage research administration and compliance, scientific integrity, and institutional research incident response and will retain her Duke University role as associate vice president for research. She will work collaboratively with the new joint positions with DHIP – the president of DHIP/vice dean for medical affairs, the director of clinical faculty compensation, and the associate dean/vice president for clinical department administration – on administrative areas that primarily interface with DHIP and the health system.
Both executive vice deans will help coordinate School of Medicine budget processes with our departments and institutes with the executive vice dean for administration and the SOM Finance Office.
Please join me in congratulating Drs. Duckett and Swamy on their expanded roles, which will enhance our operational efficiencies and strategically align us for continued growth and success.