About DOCR | Duke University School of Medicine

Susanna Naggie, MD

Vice Dean for Clinical Research

Susanna Naggie, MD, is the Vice Dean for Clinical Research and Associate Professor of Medicine in the Duke University School of Medicine effective May 20, 2020. Dr. Naggie has direct responsibility for advancing the clinical research mission of the School of Medicine. She works closely with School of Medicine, Health System and Campus leaders including the Vice Dean for Translational Sciences, Vice Dean for Data Science and Information Technology, Executive Vice Dean for Administration, and Vice Dean and Executive Director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI). She oversees the Duke Office of Clinical Research (DOCR) and Office of Regulatory Affairs & Quality. She also has a leadership role with the Clinical Research Units (CRUs), working closely with department CRU leadership.

Dr. Naggie is a physician-scientist focused on the care of patients with HIV and viral hepatitis and leads a research program aimed at understanding the mechanisms of accelerated liver fibrogenesis in this patient population and the development of biomarkers to guide medical decision making. She currently serves as chair of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group Viral Hepatitis Transformative Science Group Committee and was recently appointed to the NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel. Dr. Naggie earned her MD from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and completed her Internal Medicine training at Duke University, where she also served as a Chief Resident in Internal Medicine. She completed her Infectious Diseases fellowship training at Duke, joining the faculty in the Division of Infectious Diseases in 2009.

Denise Snyder, MS, RD

Associate Dean for Clinical Research

Denise C. Snyder, MS, RD is the associate dean for Clinical Research for Duke University School of Medicine. In this role, she leads the Duke Office of Clinical Research (DOCR), a support office with expertise in study logistics, data management, regulatory oversight, and guidance for clinical research operations for Duke as a site.

“Research administration at academic medical centers should help clinical investigators navigate the complex research environment and operationalize research ideas. To effectively do this, the research culture must evolve from a model where individual faculty employ and trust only their own people to one of collaboration and trust of a much larger group of staff to help achieve scientific excellence. This means that staff and research support must deliver a high level of customer service and have a grounded conviction for what brings them to work every day.

For AMCs, research is a collaboration, not a service. There is a desire and drive to change patient care and health outcomes. When first taking on the office, this became our mission. First, change the culture of the central team, putting customer service first. Second, inspire staff by emphasizing that we’ve all chosen to work in AMCs because changing patient care and health outcomes is bigger than each of us. Together, the staff in clinical research must collaborate to be catalysts for change amongst the entire Duke research community. We must build partnerships based in trust with our faculty, patients, and local community. If staff only think about “me”, it will divert attention away from the true mission.”