Message from the Chair
Greetings and welcome to the Centennial edition of Perigee. When we say Centennial, we of course refer not to our own Department (started in 2022) but rather Duke University, founded in 1924. Although we are a relatively more recent entity, there are many parallel features between our institution and Duke Emergency Medicine at our respective beginnings.
At its inception in 1924, Duke University had demonstrated a baseline of excellence as an entity known as Trinity College. Likewise, upon our founding in 2022 Duke Emergency Medicine had a track record of accomplishments, having already established one of the nation’s best residency programs, ranking among the top 20 departments in NIH funding, and implementing cutting-edge clinical care practices. In this issue you will also learn more about our core missions of clinical care, education, research, and community engagement.
Furthermore, both Duke Emergency Medicine and Duke University have always aimed to attract and retain the most talented faculty and learners. Duke Emergency Medicine carries on this tradition of excellence in our inclusive recruitment and retention practices, as demonstrated in our story on creating an ideal culture and environment.
Upon its founding the University began building specialized programs such as creating a dedicated School of Engineering in 1939. Likewise, in this issue you will see the growth in a number of emergency medicine sub-specialties such as hyperbarics, ultrasound, prehospital care, and sports medicine. Our Division of Translational Health Sciences continues to grow, and we continue to excel in data science and implementation science research.
Ultimately, however, a University (and a Department) is built by people. In this issue you will learn more about our people, including those behind the scenes in our administration, and our newest additions in fellows, residents, and advanced practice providers. Thankfully we are fortunate to have some of the best people, who will no doubt carry us into our next century through inclusive service, innovative discovery, and collaborative learning.
Charles J. Gerardo, MD, MHS
Chair
Professor of Emergency Medicine
Department of Emergency Medicine
Duke University School of Medicine
per-i-gee (n.)
the point in the Moon's orbit at which it is nearest to Earth.
Here at Duke EM, we use "perigee" to symbolize the myriad ways in which our faculty, trainees, and staff accomplish great things and continuously strive for excellence in all we do.
A New Division in the Department
The Division of Translational Health Sciences (THS) is dedicated to transforming emergency healthcare through rigorous translational research. Our mission is to enhance patient and population-level outcomes by moving beyond the traditional “bench to bedside” model.
Operations / ASTRO
An initiative by the leadership of Emergency Medicine Operations, in collaboration with the Division of Translational Health Sciences, aimed to develop a robust research field focused on improving the efficiency and equity of operations.
Duke EUS Celebrates Exciting Year at SAEM24
The Duke Emergency Ultrasound Section (EUS) had a successful and fun year at the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) national conference this past May in Phoenix, AZ. From faculty research awards to plenary abstracts and ultrasound gaming teams, we strongly represented Duke Emergency Medicine and our Emergency Ultrasound program.
Purakal Represents Duke at the White House
John Purakal, MD, an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and core faculty at the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, was honored to attend the White House’s Celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May.
Spotlight: Advanced Practice Provider Ashley Britt
Ashley Britt got her start in emergency medicine in 2011 at Vidant Health and has been practicing at Duke Emergency Medicine since 2015
Emergency Medical Services and Disaster Medicine at Duke
Over the last few years, Duke Emergency Medicine has seen significant growth in this area and is currently in the process of formally creating the Section for Emergency Medical Services and Disaster Medicine. The services and scope of responsibilities that our faculty provide expertise and oversight in have also expanded.
Behind the Scenes with the Administrative Team
In the production that is our department, faculty, providers and trainees often take center stage. Much like the cast and crew of a production, our faculty and staff work together in pursuit of a common vision.
Alumni Update: Lauren Southerland
Our Alumni Update highlights Lauren Southerland, MD. A graduate of Duke University School of Medicine, Dr. Southerland also completed her residency in Emergency Medicine at Duke University in 2011.
Global Emergency Medicine Innovation and Implementation
The Global Emergency Medicine Innovation and Implementation (GEMINI) Research Center allows researchers to collaborate with partners around the globe to address some of the most impactful global health challenges related to access to care.
Medications in Space
In an analysis published in npj Microgravity, a Nature journal, Duke Emergency Medicine faculty member Dan Buckland, MD, PhD and his coauthors noted that more than half of the medicines stocked on a typical space mission would expire before they could be replaced.
Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Duke Emergency Medicine faculty member Emily R. Smith, PhD, published her debut book, The Science of the Good Samaritan: Thinking Bigger About Loving Our Neighbors, last fall.
A Renewed Focus on Simulation and Procedural Excellence
The Duke Emergency Medicine Residency has placed renewed focus on simulation and procedural excellence. The program provides five hours of monthly simulation to residents, including task training and high-fidelity team-based resuscitations.
Launching the PIONEER Curriculum
August of 2023 marked the launch of the Duke University School of Medicine (SOM) novel “PIONEER” curriculum, a 16-week multidisciplinary outpatient experience, providing exposure to multiple specialties earlier in their clinical training for better understanding of the roles of various settings within the healthcare system.
Spotlight: Primary Care Sports Medicine
Primary Care Sports Medicine has been around since its certification in 1992, over 30 years ago, and is one of 9 accredited fellowships available to Emergency Medicine and there are over 150 programs in the country.
Welcome to New Fellows, APPs, and Residents!
Meet the latest additions to the Duke Emergency Medicine team!
Selected Research Publications
See recent research published in journals with the highest Impact Factor, a measure of the average number of citations to articles in that journal.
Creating Our Ideal Culture and Environment
Our vision and mission are rooted in creating inclusive access to the highest quality care, leading in innovation, knowledge creation and its translation through collaborative learning for the benefit of people and the communities we serve. Over the past year, our department has made significant progress achieving these ideals by strategic support of our people and programs.
What Is the Impact of Your Contribution?
Dr. Thom Mayer's generous donation allowed us to support resident Dr. Daniel Cox in his endeavor to obtain his Diploma in Mountain Medicine (DiMM) from the University of New Mexico.