A Duke team that responded to a major pipe burst and subsequent flooding in and around Duke University Hospital’s Emergency Department were among those honored at Duke’s annual Presidential Awards ceremony in Page Auditorium on March 17.
Emergency Medicine department members Matthew McCartt, PA-C, MPAS, MPH, and Erin Hanlin, MD, MPH—along with Crystal Crider, clinical operations director in Emergency Services, and dozens of other School of Medicine and health system team members—received the award for their impressive and inspiring response to the flood.
Organized by the Office of the President in partnership with Duke Human Resources, the Presidential Awards are among Duke’s highest honors for staff and faculty, recognizing those who demonstrate Duke’s core values of respect, trust, inclusion, discovery and excellence. This year, five individuals and two teams received the award.
The flood response team’s leadership, expertise, and calm under pressure were instrumental during this complex operation. Their efforts demonstrated what is possible when teamwork, accountability, and service come first.
A Heroic Response
On December 26, 2024, an 8-inch pipe burst near Duke University Hospital’s Emergency Department, pouring thousands of gallons of water into the emergency room, sterile processing unit, pharmacy, imaging services area, blood bank, several supply rooms and loading dock. The response, spearheaded by a group of 38 team members from across Duke University Health System, began immediately.
No patients were harmed as staff members quickly moved them to safety and devised plans for continuing care. While 200,000 square feet of hospital space was affected, the repair process began right away as some critical spaces were reopened the day after the incident. Just 96 hours after the pipe burst, the Emergency Department reopened at 80% capacity.
“As I walked the impacted areas, the commitment of the team and local contractors was palpable as they all worked together to ensure we could provide care to our community,” said Duke University Health System Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Thomas Owens, MD, who nominated the team.
“Other hospitals across the country have experienced floods and have been shut down for months. This team took four days. The remarkable achievements of our colleagues at Duke Health are evident each day, and our collective response to this flood is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our organization, for which I am especially proud.”
Read about other School of Medicine Presidential Award winners
Read about the Presidential Award winners across the university and health system