VOLUME 18 NO. 8 n inside.dukemedicine.
org n August 2009
Work Culture scores
show solid growth
Results add to decade of improvements, point to areas for progress
I ndicating a strong commitment to
improving the work environment and
providing superior patient care, the
Duke University Health System’s most
recent Work Culture Survey results
posted the largest gains in the 10 years
since the survey began.
In the 2009 results, the Work Culture
Index, an averaged score of 11 represen-
tative questions designed to measure how
health system employees feel about where
they work, increased by 7.5 percentage
points from 2008, moving from 61.3
percent to 68.8 percent.
That score has increased an impres-
sive 24 percentage points since 1999.
For more than 10 years now,
employees of Duke University Health
System have helped shape improvements
in workplace and patient care through
the Work Culture Survey. Among the
topics surveyed are perceptions of
DUHS’s reputation, the quality of work-
ing conditions, benefits, the way patients
see WORK CULTURE, p 3
construction
Going, going ...
See the historic Bell Building
come down, from the safety
of your computer, thanks to
a new webcam.
Page 8
Recognizing
“Research shows a strong relationship quality care
between employee engagement and AHA honors DUHS hospitals’
commitment to quality, safety
satisfaction and patient satisfaction.“
— William J. Fulkerson, Jr., M.D.,
senior vice president for clinical affairs
D uke University Hospital was
one of three U.S. hospitals
to be recognized in July by the
American Hospital Association
(AHA) for leadership and in-
novation in quality, safety and
commitment to patient care.
“This award acknowledges
what we believe sets DUH
apart — our ongoing com-
mitment to excellence and
to a culture of encouraging
safe choices.“
— Kevin Sowers, CEO,
Duke University Hospital
The AHA selected DUH as the
recipient of the Citation of Merit,
in recognition of the hospital’s
leadership engagement, the use of
various process improvement tools
and health information technology,
as well as the strong nursing pres-
Work Culture Index Favorability Rate ence and staff enthusiasm observed
shows significant improvement during the selection committee’s
The Work Culture Index Favorability Rate has increased by almost 24 percentage visit.
points since 1999. The index is the averaged score of 11 representative questions “We are honored that the AHA
that measure how employees feel about the workplace. recognized DUH for our commit-
Full surveys sent to the entire health system workforce, which include the index ment to quality and safety as we
questions, were conducted in 1999, 2002 and every year since 2004.
see AHA, p 2
inquiry benefits
Innovation Are you ready
and recognition for some football?
Read about award winning Come join your colleagues
scientists and their latest for some free gridiron fun.
research findings. Page 7
Page 5
2 Inside Duke Medicine August 2009

A CCO L A D ES

DUH ranks among

Top 10 best U.S.
Hospitals
The outstanding work of physician
faculty, nurses, technologists and all staff
throughout Duke University Hospital has
again been recognized with the naming
of DUH among the top 10 best hospitals
in America in U.S. News & World Report's
annual best hospital edition.

In the latest report, DUH tied for 10th

place overall, and ranked among the
top 10 in eight of the 16 specialties
measured.

“The ranking is a wonderful credit to the

continued outstanding teamwork of all
the people of Duke University Hospital,”
said Kevin Sowers, the hospital’s CEO.
“The daily efforts of each person to put
the patient at the center of our organiza-
tion and to continually seek ways to
improve add up collectively to what
Duke Hospital is and what is recognized
with these rankings.”

Among specialties, DUH ranked fourth in

gynecology, fifth in geriatrics, sixth in
orthopaedics, sixth in respiratory disease/
pulmonary, sixth in urology, seventh in
ophthalmology, eighth in heart and heart
surgery, ninth in cancer, 11th in kidney
disorders, 13th in psychiatry, 17th in
digestive disorders, 18th in neurology
and neurosurgery and 22nd in diabetes
and endocrine disorders.

The hospital has appeared in the U.S.

AHA, continued
work daily to provide patients with
the very best of care,” said CEO
Kevin Sowers, MSN, RN, FAAN.
“This award acknowledges what we
believe sets DUH apart from other
hospitals — our ongoing commit-
ment to excellence and to a culture
of encouraging safe choices.”
The hospital’s unique Safe
Choices program was also
recognized as a distinctive effort
to improve quality and safety.
The Safe Choices program was
developed and is facilitated by
DUH leadership to empower staff
to improve safety by understanding
the importance of behavioral
choices in everyday patient care.
“Innovative safety programs
News rankings for 20 years. DUH is the
only hospital in North Carolina and the
Southeast ranked among the top 10 in
“We are honored that the AHA recognized DUH for the country.
our commitment to quality and safety as we work All of the 21 medical centers named as
the part of the honor roll this year had to
daily to provide patients with the very best of care.“ demonstrate a breadth of excellence by
— Kevin Sowers, CEO, Duke University Hospital achieving a high ranking in no fewer
than six of the 16 specialties, according
and reporting systems, enhanced Health Forum Leadership Summit in to the magazine.
information technology and efforts San Francisco on Thurs., July 23. The top 10 hospitals in the U.S. News &
to encourage active patient and The American Hospital World Report's rankings were, respec-
community involvement are only Association-McKesson Quest for tively: Johns Hopkins Hospital, the Mayo
a few of the countless initiatives Quality Prize is presented annu- Clinic, UCLA Medical Center, Cleveland
conducted on an ongoing basis to ally and supported by grants from Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital,
New York-Presbyterian University
ensure we continue to meet and the McKesson Foundation and
Hospital, University of California-San
exceed national standards across all McKesson Corporation. Francisco, Hospital of the University of
aspects of patient care,” said Mary At the summit, AHA also Pennsylvania Barnes-Jewish Hospital/
Ann Fuchs, chief nursing and patient recognized Duke Raleigh Hospital Washington University, Brigham and
care services officer for DUH and with the NOVA Award for two Women's Hospital and Duke University
Medical Center.
Duke University Health System. community health education pro-
Duke was presented the award grams. Learn more at http://inside. Read the full report at: http://health.
at the opening session of the AHA dukemedicine.org. n usnews.com/hospitals

■ ■ I N S I D E V olume 1 8 , I ssue 8
Inside Duke Medicine, the employee
newspaper for the Duke University Health
System, is published monthly by Duke
Medicine News & Communications.
Your comments, story ideas and photo
contributions are always welcome and
appreciated. Deadline for submissions
is the 15th of each month.
Contact us
Campus mail: DUMC 104030
Deliveries: 2200 W. Main St.,
Suite 910-B, Durham, NC 27705
Phone: 919.660.1318
E-mail: editorinside@mc.duke.edu
Staff
Editor: Anton Zuiker
Managing Editor: Mark Schreiner
Science Editor: Kelly Malcom
Designer: Vanessa DeJongh
Inside Online Editors:
Bill Stagg and Erin Pratt
Copyright © 2009
Duke University Health System
August 2009 Inside Duke Medicine 3

on the cover

WORK CULTURE, continued to quality care, customer focus and

and fellow employees are treated and
on resources for career advancement.
Overall, 11,190 respondents com-
pleted the survey this spring, making
for a record response rate of 88 percent.
Employees who work in the hospitals,
Private Diagnostic Clinics, Patient
Revenue Management Organization,
Duke Primary Care, Duke Homecare
and Hospice, clinics, clinical labs and
corporate services are invited each May
to take the online survey.
“The record-high participation rate
reflects the level of commitment our
employees have to helping improve the
work culture and ultimately the service
and care we provide to patients,” said
Steve Smith, chief human resources
officer for Duke University Health
System. “The Work Culture Survey of-
fers employees a voice and has enabled
them to be a vital part of changes that
have led to our success.”
Employees serving on work culture
committees at each of the entities use
the results each year to help identify op-
portunities for continued improvement.
The survey, which is managed by
an outside vendor to ensure no one
can see any individual employee’s
responses, fits in with Duke University
Health System’s commitment to
providing the best possible care to
patients and families, who are at the
center of the organization’s mission.
respect for employees in the workplace
had the highest scores in this year’s
survey, and compared the best against
national benchmarks, Smith said.
“We have made great strides in
improving our work culture over the
last decade,” Smith said. “But we
still have room for improvement in
developing a best-in-class work culture
that puts the patient first in everything
we do.”
Over the last decade, important
programs have been created or
enhanced based in part on feedback
from the Work Culture Survey.
These include manager training,
leader visibility and engagement, the
Clinical Ladder and the Professional
Development Institute, enhanced
“The record–high participation rate reflects the level of
performance management, Duke’s
commitment our employees have to helping improve the Employee Tuition Assistance Program
and the Strength, Hope and Caring
work culture and ultimately the service and care we pro- recognition efforts.
vide our patients.“ — Steve Smith, DUHS chief human resources officer In the 2009 survey, respondents
indicated a desire for even greater
“Research shows a strong and addressing employee concerns emphasis on work-life balance and
relationship between employee en- raised in this survey.” career growth and development.
gagement and satisfaction and patient This year’s survey included bench- As in previous surveys, the details
satisfaction,” said William J. Fulkerson mark comparisons with other academic of the entity and department survey
Jr., M.D., senior vice president for medical centers and health systems results will be shared with managers in
clinical affairs. “The Work Culture across the country. Duke University the coming month. These results will
Survey 2009 results are encouraging Health System’s scores placed it above then be shared with employees and
for Duke University Health System and more than 60 percent of the nation’s used to inform the efforts of the work
a reason to celebrate, but we remain academic medical centers. culture improvement committees in
committed to continuous improvement Questions about commitment creating programs for improvement. n

Work Culture
Here are some milestones of the work culture at DUHS. Many of these changes were initiated by data collected through the
Work Culture Survey and other employee engagement. While every initiative may not have directly impacted every employee,

milestones collectively these efforts have helped create a better work environment for all employees. Find the complete list of work culture
milestones at Inside Online, http://inside.dukemedicine.org. Search for 'Work Culture Survey.'

2009 2007 2004 2001

• Tuition Assistance Program expanded to
$5,250 per calendar year for tuition
related to an employee’s job and/or
continued career growth at Duke when
documented as part of the employee’s
professional development plan.
• Memorial Day added as a designated
holiday, which means that DUHS
• Nursing Tuition Assistance Program
introduced to cover 90 percent of tuition for
study toward a master’s degree or post-
master’s degree certificate at the Duke
University School of Nursing.
• Nursing referral program increased to
$5,000 bonus to reward staff for referring
nurses who are hired by a DUHS hospital.
• Guidelines for planning and managing
flexible work options introduced.
• Low-cost health plan, Duke Basic, intro-
duced to expand health insurance options.
2003
• Employee advisory groups created at three
hospitals to provide feedback on Human
Resources initiatives.
• Pay and Performance study initiated to
design new approach for compensation that
aligns goals and creates a stronger link
between pay and individual performance.

employees working on Memorial Day • Personal Benefits Statements and financial

2000
receive holiday pay.
2006 planning tools made available online through
the new Retirement Manager Web site. • Action teams created for Rewards &
• Professional Development Institute starts Recognition and Opportunities for Learning &

2008
• Duke@Work, the self-service Web site
for employees, was introduced to offer
staff the ability to log in, view, and make
changes to their personnel information.
First Time Supervisor Program.
2005
• Duke established new starting pay rate of
• Financial Fitness Week introduced to help
employees with financial planning.
2002
Development to develop recommendations
for improvements.
• Guide to “Managing at Duke” program
initiated.

$10 per hour. • Professional Development Institute created

• Recognition programs introduced across
DUHS entities, including “Thanks,”
Strength, Hope and Caring; Spirited
Leader Award, and DHTS Stars.
• DUHS implemented final phase of the Pay &
Performance initiative, introduces pay structure
and policies to create consistency in how jobs
are categorized and pay is administered.
to enhance internal staff promotions. 1999
• Private Diagnostic Clinic and Durham • Duke University Health System established
Regional Hospital implement Clinical Ladder and first Work Culture Survey conducted.
for registered nurses.
4 Inside Duke Medicine August 2009

the big picture BU L L ETINS

Georgiade appointed
interim chief of
Plastic Surgery
Gregory S. Georgiade, M.D., Professor and
Vice Chair of Financial Affairs for the
Department of Surgery, has been ap-
pointed Interim
Chief of the
Division of
Plastic and
Reconstructive
Surgery.

This appoint-
ment was
effective July 1,
2009. Dr.
gregory s.
georgiade, m.d. Georgiade has
been a faculty
member in the division since 1980 and will
work closely with Danny O. Jacobs, M.D.,
MPH, David C. Sabiston Jr. Professor and
Chair of the Department of Surgery, to
address core missions linked to faculty
endeavors within the Division of Plastic
and Reconstructive Surgery.

Children and volunteers follow African dance instructor Sherone Price as he guides them through each step during Moul receives honor
an activity session during Congenital Heart Defect Symposium held July 24 at Duke Children's. (From left: Caran from Castle Connolly
Brewer, 7, Sydnie Smith, 5, Mya Booth, 4, and volunteer Briana Axar). Photo by Melissa Schwarting
Judd W. Moul, M.D., chief of the Division
of Urology and director of the Duke
Prostate Center, is one of only three
physicians nationally who received a 2009
G OO D I D E A S Clinical Excellence Award from Castle
Connolly Medical Ltd.

Applying the ‘Minimum Necessary’ standard

The award recognizes physicians who
exemplify excellence in clinical medical
practice.

H ealth Insurance Portability and Moreover, broadly stated requests for Earlier this year, Moul, who is James H.
Semans, M.D. Professor of Surgery, was
Accountability Act (HIPAA) information — for example, a request
elected to a
regulations require that reasonable that asks for any and all records — three-year term
steps be taken to limit the use of, will be clarified with the requestor. on the board of
disclosure of, and requests for
ATE The clarification will identify the directors of the

protected health information (PHI) to
the minimum amount of information
necessary to accomplish the intended
purpose unless for treatment purposes.
The Minimum Necessary
Standard applies to the Duke
University Health System workforce.
DUHS employees may be
granted access to PHI to carry out
their work. If performing duties
requires accessing PHI, then the
protected health information accessed
in the patient’s record must be limited
to the information needed to complete
the job or accomplish the task.
Accessing information that isn’t
needed to perform the job is consid-
ered unauthorized access and could
lead to termination.
The Release of Information
Unit in the Health Information
Management (HIM) departments of
PRIV
DUHS processes
all routine disclosures
of PHI.
A routine
disclosure is defined as a disclosure
made on a recurring basis. When the
department receives an authorized
request for PHI, only the information
requested or needed will be disclosed.
For instance, if a requestor asked
for a CT scan of the chest performed
on a specific date, only that specific
CT information will be disclosed.
intended purpose of the request
and ultimately the specific informa-
tion needed.
Further information regarding
the Minimum Necessary Standard
can be found in the DUHS poli-
cy “Applying the Minimum
Necessary Standard for
Using, Disclosing, and
Requesting Protected Health
Information” or the HIPAA Privacy
Rule. This link, abbreviated here for
ease of communication, will take
you to the policy posted to a secure
DUHS Web site: http://tinyurl.com/
MinimumNecessaryStandard
Address questions or concerns
to a supervisor or compliance officer,
or contact the Integrity Line at (800)
826-8109.
Also, see http://staff.dukehealth
org/compliance for more information. n
National
Association for
Continence, and
was recognized at
the 56th-annual
judd w. moul, m.d.
Kimbrough
Urological
Seminar in
Washington, D.C., by former U.S. Sen.
Bob Dole, who thanked Moul for helping
to care for him from 1991 to 2004 in
relation to his prostate cancer treatment.
Moul serves on the editorial boards of
Urology, Brazilian Journal of Urology and
World Journal of Robotic Surgery, and is
co-editor of Prostate Cancer and Prostatic
Diseases.
He has published more than 500 medical
and scientific manuscripts and book
chapters and has lectured at national and
international meetings.
In 2006, Moul was selected as chairman of
the newly founded American Urological
Association Foundation Education Council.

best pr ac tices
An automated alert system could help
cut down infections. FILE PHOTO
Reducing device
related infections
Duke Infection Control & Epidemiology staff
recently presented “Automated Queries Aid
in Prompt Notification of Device Related
Infections” and “A Model for Infection
Prevention in Ambulatory Care Facilities” at
the 36th Annual Educational Conference
and International Meeting of the
Association for Professionals in Infection
Control and Epidemiology.
Lisa Cooper, RN, BSN; Sheila Vereen, RN,
BSN, CIC; Judie Bringhurst, RN, BSN, ICP;
Mary Oden, RN, MSH; Deverick Anderson,
MD, MPH; along with Ryan Melton and Jeff
Harger from Performances Services collabo-
rated on a project to develop an automated
notification system to provide ICU leadership
with timely notification of device related
infections (DRI) after the ICU leadership
approached Infection Control (IC) for
assistance with “real time” feedback
regarding device related infections.
The system consisted of two components.
First, Performance Services created a query to
identify DRIs entered into the Duke Infection
Control & Epidemiology database by the ICPs
to search for infections that occurred within
the 7 days prior to the query run date.
Second, if DRIs were identified by this query,
an automated email was generated and sent
to appropriate ICU personnel. The email led
the ICU personnel to a website that provided
details of the infection.
As a result, the ICU staff is now able to
investigate each DRI shortly after it occurs.
The unit Quality Improvement team reviews
each DRI and assesses whether any specific
targets for improvement are required. This
automated notification system has allowed
for each DRI to be analyzed more quickly
and has improved the relationship between
ICU leadership and IC.
The Science & Research Supplement to Inside Duke Medicine
VOLUME 18 NO. 8
AIDS research consortium
honors young Duke scientists
Scanning electron micrograph of HIV-1 budding from cultured lymphocyte.
PHOTO COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
T he Collaboration for AIDS Vaccine
Discovery (CAVD) has recog-
nized two young scientists in Duke
University’s Human Vaccine Institute
for significant contributions toward the
organization’s goal of controlling the
spread of HIV/AIDS.
Laurent Verkoczy, Ph.D., an
assistant professor of medicine at Duke
and the director of the laboratory of B
cell immunoregulation at DHVI, is the
most recent recipient of the Young and
Early Career Investigator Recognition.
Verkoczy’s work focuses on un-
derstanding the function of the body’s
B- cell system and how it might be
manipulated to create a more powerful
response against HIV.
He is passionate about his work.
“HIV is a unique virus that will
require thinking outside the box to
overcome, and as a basic immunologist,
that is a particularly exciting, albeit
agonizing aspect of this type of research.
I have always been intense about my
work, and want to finish any job in front
of me, so if that results in being able to
contribute a small piece to this daunting
medical puzzle, that would bring me
tremendous satisfaction.”
Sunhee Lee, Ph.D., also an as-
sistant professor of medicine at DHVI,
was designated one of the first re-
cipients of the Young and Early Career
Investigator Recognition in July.
Lee is working on developing
n inside.dukemedicine.org n August 2009
safer and more effective vaccines and
immune-based therapies that could be
used against drug-resistant strains of
tuberculosis. Like Verkoczy, she thrives
on the quest for better vaccines.
“I am inspired by the complexity
of nature and science and how every
organism fits into its own niche on
the planet. That complexity inspires
me to work to find novel and creative
solutions.”
Both Verkoczy and Lee work under
the direction of Barton Haynes, M.D.,
professor of medicine at Duke, director
of the Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine
Immunology and director of the Haynes
Vaccine Discovery Consortia, one of
19 research collaboratives around the
world supported by CAVD and the Bill
and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Haynes says Lee and Verkoczy
represent the best in the new genera-
tion of young scientists at Duke and
nationwide. “They are both creative,
independent thinkers yet are willing
to also work with others to speed
progress on problems that are of great
importance to society such as solving the
problems of prevention of HIV and TB
transmission. At their young ages, they
already are making great contributions.”
The Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation created the Collaboration
for AIDS Vaccine Discovery in 2006
to accelerate the pace of HIV vaccine
research. (See http://www.cavd.org) n
News
High blood pressure
and cancer treatment
Drugs that block the formation of new
blood vessels that feed tumor growth are
helping some cancer patients enjoy longer
lives. But they come with a price: Studies
show that up to a third of all patients who
take the anti-angiogenesis drugs develop
high blood pressure. Scientists at Duke
may have figured out why.
“Anti-angiogenesis drugs like Avastin,
Sutent or Nexavar inhibit an important
substance called vascular endothelial
growth factor (VEGF) that stimulates the
creation of new vessels that support
malignant growth,” says Thomas Coffman,
M.D., a professor of medicine, cell biology
and immunology at Duke and the senior
author of the study appearing online in the
journal Hypertension. “Our studies in mice
show that blocking VEGF causes hyperten-
sion because it disrupts an important
biological system — the nitric oxide path-
way that regulates blood vessel health.”
Scientists discovered the connection
through experiments in mice. Carie
Facemire, Ph.D., a researcher in Coffman’s
lab and lead author on the study, used an
antibody to block a key VEGF receptor
called VEGFR2 in the animals. She found
that after about a week, all of the mice
that received the antibody experienced a
“rapid and sustained” increase in blood
pressure. Animals that got a placebo
maintained normal blood pressure.
To further determine what role nitric oxide
dysregulation plays in promoting
hypertension, Coffman gave the mice in
the placebo group a compound to block
nitric oxide pro=duction. Sure enough,
those mice developed high blood
pressure, too, just like the group that got
the VEGFR2 antibody.
Coffman says as cancer patients live longer,
side effects like hypertension, which might
once have seemed less important, take on
new meaning. “Long-term hypertension
can have serious consequences,” he says.
Herbert Hurwitz, M.D., a medical
oncologist at Duke and one of the first to
document how Avastin and other
anti-angiogenesis drugs provide benefit
to cancer patients, says for most patients,
anti-angiogenesis drugs are helpful and
any resulting hypertension is usually
manageable with traditional blood
pressure medications. “However, these
new findings are important since they
point to specific ways to better protect
against the risks of long-term hyperten-
sion. They also suggest ways to protect
patients against other serious but
uncommon side effects, like stroke or
heart attack.”
6 Inquiry
NEWS
Common ailments, cutting-edge research
Micrograph of a uterine fibroid.
Photo COURTESY OF WIKMEDIA COMMONS
A new way to study single neurons
S cientists at Duke University and
the University of North Carolina
have devised a chemical technique that
promises to allow neuroscientists to
discover the function of any popula-
tion of neurons in an animal brain,
and provide clues to treating and
preventing brain disease.
Knowing what a
particular type of neuron
in a specific brain region
does will help researchers
find the root of certain
diseases so they can be
effectively treated.
With the technique they describe
in the journal Neuron online on July
15, scientists will be able to noninva-
sively activate entire populations of
individual types of neurons within a
brain structure.
“We have discovered a method
in which systemic administration
of an otherwise inert chemical to a
mutant mouse selectively activates
a single group of neurons,” said
James McNamara, M.D., chair of the
Duke Department of Neurobiology
U terine fibroids are an under
researched but very common
condition in women during child-bearing
years. By age 50, about 70 percent of
Caucasian women and 80 percent of
African American women will develop
fibroids. Fibroids are the most com-
mon reason for hysterectomy in the
United States.
Phyllis Leppert, M.D., Ph.D, vice
chair for research of the Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology, is making
strides toward understanding why they
develop. Leppert, who came to Duke
in 2006 from the National Institutes of
Health, has found that fibroids, com-
monly regarded as benign tumors, are
not tumors at all. Instead, fibroids appear
to form through a process of abnormal
Pyramidal neuron in the hippocampus of an epileptic patient.
Photo courtesy WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
and co-senior author of the paper.
“Elaborating on this method promises
to let scientists engineer different
kinds of mutant mice in which single
groups of neurons will be activated
by this chemical, so scientists can
understand the behaviors mediated by
each of these groups.”
Right now, most scientists gain
knowledge of brain function by
correlating brain activity with certain
behaviors; connecting a damaged
brain area with an observed loss of
wound healing leading to fibrosis.
Members of her laboratory, includ-
ing Liping Feng, M.D. and Friederike
Jayes, DVM, Ph.D., have demonstrated
that TSP-1, a protein found in the
outside of cells elevated in early
wound healing, plays a role in forming
Leppert has found that fibroids,
commonly regarded as benign
tumors, are not tumors at all.
fibroids. They are actively studying
the role of TSP-1 in the activation of
Transforming Growth Factor–1 and 3,
which play a role in cellular prolifera- at preventing their formation by sup-
tion, including fibroids.
They established a cell culture model process,” said Leppert. n
function; or activating entire brain
structures invasively and observing
the resulting behavior.
Knowing what a particular type
of neuron in a specific brain region
does will help researchers find the
root of certain diseases so they can be
effectively treated, said McNamara,
an expert in epilepsy. He pointed out
that the human brain contains billions
of neurons that are organized into
thousands of distinct groups that need
to be studied. n
August 2009
of early fibroid development: serum
starvation of cells from the middle layer
of the uterine wall in culture and then
introducing serum, a process that the
cells perceive as a signal of “wounding”.
This process stimulates the cells to
produce TSP-1 and TGF, a key player in
the initiation of fibrosis.
They are now pursuing
therapeutic targets to treat
uterine fibroids medically by
investigating the mechanisms of
action of several novel agents,
such as TGF inhibitors.
“Instead of tackling fibroids
through surgery, we could look at ways
pressing this abnormal wound healing
Duke-GMS Professor
receives accolades
Michael Chee, M.D., was named National
Outstanding Clinician Scientist at the National
Medical Excellence Awards (NMEA) 2009
Ceremony. The NMEA celebrates medical and
research excellence against the backdrop of
Singapore’s biomedical sciences initiatives.
He is professor at the Duke-NUS Graduate
Medical School
Singapore and the
principal investigator
of the Cognitive
Neuroscience Lab. His
functional brain
imaging work on the
sleep-deprived brain
seeks to discover
michael chee, m.d. vulnerable points in
the brain that lose
function when we are sleep deprived. He is
keen to determine why some people are
more vulnerable to sleep deprivation and to
use sleep deprivation as a ‘cognitive stress
test’ that might prove useful in the evalua-
tion of cognitive modulators.
The National Outstanding Clinician Scientist
Award is Professor Chee’s latest achievement.
He was one of the pioneer recipients of the
prestigious Singapore Translational Research
Investigator (STAR) Awards last year.
Science Editor: Kelly Malcom
Inquiry features science and research-
related news items from Duke Medicine News
and Communications and other Duke
departments. To submit content, contact us
at editorinside@mc.duke.edu
August 2009
working@duke
In appreciation: Free tickets to
football opener for Duke employees
As part of Duke Appreciation, Duke faculty and staff are invited to participate in the Sept. 5 opener of the second season under
football coach David Cutcliffe, left. file photo
D
uke football kicks off its second season under
Coach David Cutcliffe on Sept. 5, and faculty
and staff are invited to celebrate the 2009 opener as
part of Duke Appreciation.
The festivities, sponsored by Duke Athletics
and Human Resources, begin at 4 p.m. at K-ville
Quad, where employees and family members can
enjoy a buffet meal, games, music and the “Blue
Devil Alley” football team march to Wallace Wade
Stadium before the 7 p.m. game against University
of Richmond.
“The support we received from the Duke
community last year was simply outstanding,”
Cutcliffe said. “Our fans play a vital role in creating
a great home game atmosphere for our team, and
we want Duke employees to be a huge part of that
experience.”
Reserve free tickets to the game and celebration
at http://www.goduke.com/employee or call (919)
681-8738. Tickets are limited to four per employee.
As part of the football season spirit, Duke
employees are invited to participate in a Duke
football trivia contest (see sidebar). Five trivia
participants will be randomly drawn to receive
prizes, which include (clean) game-worn jerseys,
and a mini football autographed by Cutcliffe.
Entries must be received by Aug. 14.
E-mail answers, along with name and phone
number, to working@duke.edu, and label the
entry “football trivia.” You can also send answers
through campus mail to Working@Duke, Box
90496. Winners and answers will be posted on
Inside Online, http://inside.dukemedicine.org
on Aug. 19. n
Inside Duke Medicine
Test your Duke football IQ, win prizes
1. Who was the first coach of Duke’s football team?
2. Duke played in the 1942 Rose Bowl in Durham instead of
Pasadena, Calif., because of World War II. If it had not moved,
how much would it have cost students to pay for the “Blue
Devil Special” trip to California that included one ticket and
a hotel room?
3. Duke Head Coach David Cuctliffe has coached two Super
Bowl MVPs in Peyton and Eli Manning. What’s the name of
the third Manning brother Cutcliffe has not coached?
4. How many NFL Hall of Fame members played football at
Duke?
5. How many football fans celebrated Duke football’s 2008
season opening 31-7 win over James Madison University
with Coach Cutcliffe?
6. What was the original name of Wallace Wade Stadium
before it opened in 1929?
7. How many years did Steve Spurrier coach at Duke?
8. In 1931, the Duke and University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill football teams combined to play a charity
game. What was the name of this Duke-UNC team?
9. What is the largest crowd in Wallace Wade Stadium history?
10. What former Duke football player was named as the
team’s Most Valuable Player twice and now works for Duke
as an assistant coach?
Answers & Winners Aug. 19 at http://inside.duke
medicine.org
To reserve your tickets, visit goduke.com/employee or call
(919) 681-8738.
7
in brief
■ ■ live for life
Support to help
break the habit
You can gain freedom from tobacco.
QuitSmart combines proven treatments to
help you break free. Classes include the
QuitSmart Stop Smoking Kit. The class
series is currently being offered at Duke
Raleigh Hospital.
All classes are 6-7 p.m. in the Dogwood
meeting room:
Tuesday, Aug. 11
Wednesday, Aug. 12
Tuesday, Aug. 25
Wednesday, Aug. 26
To register or for more information visit
http://www.hr.duke.edu/tobaccofree
or call the LIVE for LIFE office at (919)
684-3136, Option 1.
■ ■ skills develo p ment
Medical Spanish classes
offered this fall
Learn valuable lessons in classes geared
toward spoken Spanish and tailored to your
needs.
Starting on Sept. 21 through Dec. 3,
10-week courses are offered by El Centro
Hispano in collaboration with Duke School
of Nursing and the Latino Health Project at
Duke University.
Two-hour classes will be held weekly as
follows:
Level 1: No previous Spanish knowledge
required. 5:30–7:30 p.m., Monday, Duke
South Clinic; 3:30–5:30 p.m., Thursday,
Durham Regional Hospital.
Level 2: Prerequisites are basic grammar,
simple medical dialogues. 5:30–7:30 p.m.,
Wednesday, Duke South Clinic; 3:30-5:30
p.m. Monday, Durham Regional Hospital.
Level 3: Prerequisites are verbs present
tense, numbers, direct and indirect
pronouns and medical vocabulary.
5:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, Duke South
Clinic.
Level 4: Prerequisites are verbs past tense
and command, idiomatic expressions,
medical vocabulary. 5:30-7:30 p.m.,
Tuesday, Duke South Clinic.
The cost is $200 per student. Book not
included. Payment by check or credit cards.
No refunds. $10 off when you bring a new
student. Register now to secure your place.
For information or other options contact
Adriana at (919) 687-4635, ext 40 or at
ayanez@elcentronc.org
8 Inside Duke Medicine August 2009

h app e n i n g s

Webcam records Bell project

T he July start on deconstruction of
the Bell Research Building closes
one of the most significant chapters in
the history of Duke University School
of Medicine. But it also opens a new
chapter as we continue to grow and
prepare for expanding future needs
for our services.
You can witness history in the
making from the convenience of your
office or home computer via a new
Web site that features a webcam view
of various construction and renova-
tion projects on the Duke University
Medical Center campus.
You can access the website at
http://www.dukemedicine.org/
construction, or on Inside Duke
Medicine online at www.inside.
dukemedicine.org (Click on “A look
back at the Bell Research Building,”
to read more), where you also can
read articles on the 62-year-old
structure and watch a video on the
historic landmark and its early days
in groundbreaking research.
The photos on the construction
and renovation Web site are updated
approximately every three minutes.
Also look for periodic updates on
the status of various Duke Medicine
construction projects that are helping
Duke Medicine create and improve
facilities in which we provide our
world-class care.
Among the current ones are the
new Sands Parking Structure, PG-9,
that is scheduled to open in 2010 and
an underground utility vault being
constructed to provide a dedicated,
protected space for the important
utilities and steam tunnels that supply
the Duke University Medical Center
and Duke’s East Campus.
The photos on this page show
what you’ve been missing. n

Snyderman Award honorees named

J ames Browne, M.D., who recently
completed his residency at Duke
in the Program of Orthopaedic
Surgery, has received the 2009 Ralph
Snyderman, M.D. GME Research
Award.
Browne was recognized for his
paper, “Resident Duty Hour Reform
Associated with Increased Morbidity
Following Hip Fracture.”
Papers were also submitted by
Nicholas Steinour, M.D., an emergen-
cy medicine resident who presented
research entitled “Improving Resident
Evaluation,” and Christopher Roth,
M.D., who submitted a paper entitled,
“Implementation of Graphic User
James Browne, M.D., center, who completed his orthopaedics residency at Duke, is
congratulated as the 2009 winner of the Snyderman Award by, left, William T. Hardaker Interface Screen Capture Solution for
Jr., M.D., program director of the Duke orthopaedics residency, and John Weinerth, Workflow and Quality Assessment of
M.D., director of Graduate Medical Education. Abdominal MR Examinations.”
The award winner receives a
certificate and a cash prize of $1,000,
and has their name engraved on a
plaque with the names of previous
winners. To select a winner, a faculty
panel reviews all submissions in a
blinded fashion. All authors receive
feedback from the evaluation.
The Snyderman Award was
established in 2004 to encourage
and recognize excellence in research
involving graduate medical education.
Snyderman is emeritus chancellor
for health affairs at Duke University
and James B. Duke Professor of
Medicine. He oversaw the develop-
ment of the Duke University Health
System and is a passionate advocate
for medical education and excellence
in teaching. n

New look: Inside Online
The daily news site for Duke Medicine
employees has a new design and extra
features. Check it out at http://inside.
dukemedicine.org
Online any time
Check Inside Online regularly for
updates and for special content,
such as photo galleries, interesting
links and video clips. http://inside.
dukemedicine.org
Need more copies?
We're happy to deliver needed extra
copies to your office, work group
or event. Please try to give several
weeks' notice. Send your request to
editorinside@mc.duke.edu