Duke University School of Medicine
Encyclopedia
The Duke University School of Medicine (Duke Med) is Duke University
's medical school operating under the auspices of the Duke University Medical Center. Established in 1925 by James B. Duke, Duke Med has earned its reputation as an integral part of one of the world's foremost patient care and biomedical research institutions.
Considered one of the most prestigious medical schools in the world, the school consistently ranks among the top ten U.S. medical schools. The School of Medicine's current Dean, Nancy C. Andrews, is the first woman hired to lead a top U.S. medical school.
Clinical rotations by medical students and residents occur within the Duke University Health System
, a fully integrated academic health care system encompassing a tertiary-care hospital and specialty clinics on the Medical Center campus, two community hospitals, home health and hospice services, a network of primary care physicians, and other affiliated partners across the SE United States. In particular, Duke University Medical Center is consistently ranked among the top 10 of some 5,700 American hospitals by US News and World Report, with 13 out of 16 specialties ranked among the nation's top 20 in 2007. Furthermore, the School of Medicine is especially noted for its groundbreaking biomedical research, bringing in $407 million in NIH-sponsored projects in 2006.
In 1925, James B. Duke made a bequest to establish the Duke School of Medicine, Duke School of Nursing, and Duke Hospital, with the goal of improving health care in the Carolinas and nationwide. 3,000 applicants applied to the new medical school in 1929 and 70 first- and third-year students were selected, including four women, for the School's inaugural class. In 1935, just five years after it opened, Duke was ranked among the top 25 percent of medical schools in the country by the AAMC
.
In 1966, The Duke Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), a joint degree program leading to both the MD and the PhD degrees, was founded. It is one of the first three in the nation. The new $94.5 million, 616-bed Duke Hospital opened in 1980, bringing the total number of patient beds to more than 1000. (Today the renovated original hospital serves as Duke Clinic, an outpatient facility that sees more than 1 million patients annually. Duke Hospital is currently licensed for 1,124 beds.) From then until 1994, the Medical Center embarked on the busiest period of new construction in decades, including the Levine Science Research Center, Medical Sciences Research Building, a complete renovation of Duke Clinic, additions to the Morris Building for cancer care and research, a new Children's Health Center, a new ambulatory care building, and new parking garages. Among its many breakthroughs and discoveries in medicine, the FDA approved lifesaving treatment for Pompe disease, a previously fatal genetic disorder, developed at Duke in 2006. That same year, Duke launched the university-wide Global Health Institute to promote education, research, and service in health care to underserved populations locally, regionally, and around the world.
. The school, called the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School
, enrolled its first class for the Fall of 2007.
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
's medical school operating under the auspices of the Duke University Medical Center. Established in 1925 by James B. Duke, Duke Med has earned its reputation as an integral part of one of the world's foremost patient care and biomedical research institutions.
Considered one of the most prestigious medical schools in the world, the school consistently ranks among the top ten U.S. medical schools. The School of Medicine's current Dean, Nancy C. Andrews, is the first woman hired to lead a top U.S. medical school.
Clinical rotations by medical students and residents occur within the Duke University Health System
Duke University Health System
The Duke University Health System, combines the Duke University School of Medicine, the Duke University School of Nursing, the Duke Clinic, and the member hospitals into a system of research, clinical care, and education.-Duke University Hospital:...
, a fully integrated academic health care system encompassing a tertiary-care hospital and specialty clinics on the Medical Center campus, two community hospitals, home health and hospice services, a network of primary care physicians, and other affiliated partners across the SE United States. In particular, Duke University Medical Center is consistently ranked among the top 10 of some 5,700 American hospitals by US News and World Report, with 13 out of 16 specialties ranked among the nation's top 20 in 2007. Furthermore, the School of Medicine is especially noted for its groundbreaking biomedical research, bringing in $407 million in NIH-sponsored projects in 2006.
History
Association of American Medical Colleges
The Association of American Medical Colleges is a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC and established in 1876. It administers the Medical College Admission Test...
.
In 1966, The Duke Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), a joint degree program leading to both the MD and the PhD degrees, was founded. It is one of the first three in the nation. The new $94.5 million, 616-bed Duke Hospital opened in 1980, bringing the total number of patient beds to more than 1000. (Today the renovated original hospital serves as Duke Clinic, an outpatient facility that sees more than 1 million patients annually. Duke Hospital is currently licensed for 1,124 beds.) From then until 1994, the Medical Center embarked on the busiest period of new construction in decades, including the Levine Science Research Center, Medical Sciences Research Building, a complete renovation of Duke Clinic, additions to the Morris Building for cancer care and research, a new Children's Health Center, a new ambulatory care building, and new parking garages. Among its many breakthroughs and discoveries in medicine, the FDA approved lifesaving treatment for Pompe disease, a previously fatal genetic disorder, developed at Duke in 2006. That same year, Duke launched the university-wide Global Health Institute to promote education, research, and service in health care to underserved populations locally, regionally, and around the world.
Curriculum
The School of Medicine has a unique curriculum among American medical schools. All of the basic sciences are learned in the first year instead of the customary two, and clinical rotations start in the second year rather than the third. This allows a year of research or other scholarship during the third year.| Section Title | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Molecules and Cells | 6.5 weeks | Biochemistry, Genetics, Cell Biology |
| Normal Body | 12.5 weeks | Gross Anatomy, Microanatomy, Physiology |
| Brain and Behavior | 4 weeks | Neurobiology, Human Behavior |
| Body and Disease | 20 weeks | Microbiology, Immunology, Pathology, Pharmacology |
Rankings and Admissions
According to US News and World Report, the Duke University School of Medicine typically ranks in the top ten medical schools in the United States. In 2011, Duke Med was ranked 5th. Admissions to Duke Med is competitive, with roughly 4.3% of applicants accepted for the 2009 class (4,966 applied, 1010 interviewed, 216 accepted). Matriculates had an average GPA of 3.72 and average MCAT of 34.2.Collaboration with the National University of Singapore
Duke recently announced plans to open a medical school in collaboration with the National University of SingaporeNational University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
. The school, called the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School
Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School
The Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore is a collaboration between the Duke University in North Carolina, United States and the National University of Singapore....
, enrolled its first class for the Fall of 2007.
Affiliated Research Institutions
- The Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) is the largest academic clinical research organization in the world. Dedicated to improving patient care through innovative clinical research, it performs clinical research across the spectrum, ranging from: Phase I through Phase IV clinical trials; outcomes researchOutcomes researchHealth Outcomes Research , also called Outcomes Research, refers to research which investigates the outcomes of health care practices...
; registries of more than 100,000 patients; and economic and quality of life studies in populations spanning more than 20 therapeutic areas. - The Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI) works to reduce health disparities in our local community and worldwide. Recognizing that many global health problems stem from economic, social, environmental, political and health care inequalities, DGHI brings together interdisciplinary teams to solve complex health problems and to train the next generation of global health scholars. The institute works with faculty and students from every school at Duke. It coordinates educational programs for undergraduate, graduate and professional students and facilitates multi-disciplinary education, research and service efforts on campus and in a variety of international sites.
- The Trent Center for Bioethics, Humanities, and History of Medicine, the Center for Chemical Biology, and the $200-million Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy.
- Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center. Research efforts include translating basic science and epidemiological findings into well-designed clinical trials, ultimately leading to the development of new therapies for diseases with a metabolic basis such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
- The Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI) is a national and international leader in the fight against the major infectious diseases. Institute leaders head the $45-million Southeast Regional Center of Excellence for Emerging Infections and Biodefense (SERCEB), established by the NIH and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2003 to perform the basic and translational research to make drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics to protect society from emerging infections and biothreats.
- Duke Cancer Institute, among the top United States comprehensive cancer centers in peer-reviewed research support, is known for designing innovative therapies using bone marrow transplantation and hyperthermia therapyHyperthermia therapyHyperthermia therapy is a type of medical treatment in which body tissue is exposed to slightly higher temperatures to damage and kill cancer cells or to make cancer cells more sensitive to the effects of radiation and certain anti-cancer drugs...
, for its studies of the immune responses to tumors, and for its unique approach to treating brain tumors, melanomaMelanomaMelanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
, lung cancerLung cancerLung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
, breast cancerBreast cancerBreast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
, ovarian cancerOvarian cancerOvarian cancer is a cancerous growth arising from the ovary. Symptoms are frequently very subtle early on and may include: bloating, pelvic pain, difficulty eating and frequent urination, and are easily confused with other illnesses....
, and prostate cancerProstate cancerProstate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
. - The Duke Heart Center has conducted many of the leading studies on the genetic factors underlying heart disease and early trials of new treatments for heart disease, as well as a long-term federal project to define appropriate treatment for heart attack patients.
- The Duke Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development is conducting one of the nation's largest studies of the elderly, surveying over 4,000 people annually to identify risk factors that lead to chronic disease and loss of independence.
- Duke Integrative Medicine is also the first in the country to attempt to examine and quantify the value of mind-body-spirit interventions for the treatment of chronic heart failure.
Notable Faculty and Alumni
- David H. AdamsDavid H. AdamsDavid H. Adams is an American cardiac surgeon and the Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis Professor and Chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center....
, heart valve surgery and mitral valve repairMitral valve repairMitral valve repair is a cardiac surgery procedure performed by cardiac surgeons to treat stenosis or regurgitation of the mitral valve. The mitral valve is the "inflow valve" for the left side of the heart. Blood flows from the lungs, where it picks up oxygen, through the pulmonary veins, to the... - Raymond Delacy AdamsRaymond Delacy AdamsRaymond Delacy Adams was an American neurologist. He was Bullard Professor of Neuropathology at Harvard Medical School and chief of neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital...
, neurologist and Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesAmerican Academy of Arts and SciencesThe American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and... - Lenox BakerLenox BakerLenox Dial Baker Sr. was an American orthopedic surgeon and athletic trainer at both Duke University and University of Tennessee. The Lenox Baker Children’s Hospital at Duke is named in his honor...
, physician, public servant - Charles E. Brady, Jr.Charles E. Brady, Jr.Charles Eldon Brady, Jr. was an American physician and a NASA astronaut.-Personal data:...
, astronaut - Irwin FridovichIrwin FridovichIrwin Fridovich is an American biochemist who, together with his graduate student Joe M. McCord, discovered the enzyme superoxide dismutase . He is currently Professor emeritus of Biochemistry at Duke University. Superoxide dismutase is a central enzyme for the detoxification of harmful oxygen free...
, biochemist who discovered superoxide dismutaseSuperoxide dismutaseSuperoxide dismutases are a class of enzymes that catalyze the dismutation of superoxide into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. As such, they are an important antioxidant defense in nearly all cells exposed to oxygen... - Philip HandlerPhilip HandlerPhilip Handler was an American nutritionist, and biochemist. He was President of the United States National Academy of Sciences for two terms from 1969 to 1981. He was also a recipient of the National Medal of Science....
, biochemist and twice President of the National Academy of SciencesUnited States National Academy of SciencesThe National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and... - Sameual KatzSamuel Katz (pediatrician)Samuel Katz is an American pediatrician and virologist whose career has been devoted to infectious disease research, focusing principally on vaccine research and development. Katz is currently the Wilburt Cornell Davison Professor and Chairman Emeritus of Pediatrics at Duke University.He is an...
, developer of measles vacine and recipient of the Albert B. Sabin Gold MedalAlbert B. Sabin Gold MedalThe Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal is awarded annually by the Sabin Vaccine Institute in recognition of work in the field of vaccinology or a complementary field. It is in commemoration of the pioneering work of Albert B. Sabin.-List of previous recipients:... - Robert LefkowitzRobert LefkowitzRobert J. Lefkowitz, M.D. is an American physician-scientist best known for his work with G protein-coupled receptors.-Biography:...
, physician and biochemist who received the National Medal of ScienceNational Medal of ScienceThe National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and... - Paul Modrich, biochemist and member of the National Academy of SciencesUnited States National Academy of SciencesThe National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
- Ron PaulRon PaulRonald Ernest "Ron" Paul is an American physician, author and United States Congressman who is seeking to be the Republican Party candidate in the 2012 presidential election. Paul represents Texas's 14th congressional district, which covers an area south and southwest of Houston that includes...
, physician (OB/GYN), United States Congressman from TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in... - Rand PaulRand PaulRandal Howard "Rand" Paul is the junior United States Senator for Kentucky. He is a member of the Republican Party. A member of the Tea Party movement, he describes himself as a "constitutional conservative" and a libertarian...
, surgeon (ophthalmologist), United States Senator from KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth... - Jane S. RichardsonJane S. RichardsonJane Shelby Richardson is an American biochemist who developed the Richardson diagram, or ribbon diagram, method of representing proteins...
, biochemist and innovator of ribbon drawings as well as winner of MacArthur AwardMacArthur Fellows ProgramThe MacArthur Fellows Program or MacArthur Fellowship is an award given by the John D. and Catherine T...