DukeMed Alumni News

DukeMed Alumni News, Spring 2022

Carolyn Coyne, PhD: Exploring How Viruses Evade the Placental Barrier

December 8, 2021

The human placenta performs a delicate balancing act: it must let beneficial nutrients pass from the mother to the developing fetus, but block harmful pathogens from making the same trip. Carolyn Coyne, PhD, investigates how the placenta has evolved to be such a fantastic protector but can also be vulnerable to pathogens.

Dismantling Racism and advancing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the School of Medicine

School Launches Plan to Dismantle Racism

December 6, 2021

Since launching its Moments to Movement initiative in June 2020, Duke University School of Medicine has begun work to better understand the root causes and harms of racism and to develop strategies to reduce racial inequity.

Illustration of kids moping on Coronavirus cell.

Helping Kids Navigate the Pandemic

December 6, 2021

The stress and isolation of the pandemic may have a lasting toll on some children, but Duke experts say most will recover fully — and some might even emerge with new strengths.

Alumni Spotlight: Emily Wang, MD’03

December 6, 2021

Emily Wang, MD’03, initially intended to study HIV research and treatment, but midway through medical school she became interested in the issues facing inmate populations. Now a professor in the Yale School of Medicine, she explores the health effects that mass incarceration has on populations both inside and outside of prison — a subject that the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown into sharp relief.

Using Genetic ‘Dimmer Switches’ to Combat COVID-19

December 6, 2021

Nick Heaton, PhD, has turned his research focus from influenza to another RNA virus: COVID-19. He is using powerful gene-editing tools to identify candidates for host-directed therapeutics, which don’t attack the virus directly but instead target proteins the virus needs.

Alumni Spotlight: Susan Blackwell, MHS, PA-C’89

December 6, 2021

In a lot of ways, Susan Blackwell (Crawford), MHS, PA-C’89, and the physician assistant profession have grown up together. They were born at roughly the same time, matured in parallel and proximity, and for more than three decades they’ve been inextricably linked.

Kevin Thomas named First Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Duke School of Medicine

November 8, 2021

Kevin Thomas MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, has been named Duke University School of Medicine’s first Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

School of Medicine joins national effort to transform medical education

November 2, 2021

The Duke University School of Medicine has been selected as one of 11 medical schools from across the United States and Canada to participate in the Anti-Racist Transformation in Medical Education (ART in Med Ed) project, a national collaborative to dismantle systemic racism and bias in academic medicine.

Duke Researchers Receive Grant to Roll Out Next-Generation Coronavirus Vaccine

October 21, 2021

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has awarded $17.5 million over three years to the Duke Human Vaccine Institute to develop a vaccine that protects against multiple types of coronaviruses and viral variants.

Dzirasa named to the National Academy of Medicine

October 18, 2021

Election to NAM is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.

More Alumni Publications

About DukeMed Alumni News

DukeMed Alumni News is published twice a year. If you have a story idea, please write to us at the address below or send an e-mail to dukemed@dm.duke.edu. We are interested in remembrances of favorite faculty or stories about your time at the School of Medicine, as well as alumni who have interesting hobbies, alternative careers, global and community health experiences, and anything you think would be of interest to other Duke medical alumni. Letters to the editor are also welcome.

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