Division News

Three of medicine's most charismatic giants (Robert Lefkowitz, Joseph Goldstein, and Michael Brown) interview each other. Robert Lefkowitz, MD, James B. Duke Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) and Biochemistry, is known for his seminal discoveries in understanding G protein-coupled receptor function. The legendary partnership between Brown and Goldstein (University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center) has spanned four decades.

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center has awarded a $100,000 grant to explore the state’s readiness for a Center of Innovation (COI) to help capitalize on the growing field of personalized medicine. The grant goes to a statewide consortium of business and academic institutions, represented by Geoff Ginsburg, MD, PhD, professor of medicine (Cardiology) and executive director of the Duke Center for Personalized Medicine.

Robert Lefkowitz, MD, James B. Duke Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) and Biochemistry, received the 2012 Robert R. Ruffolo Career Achievement Award in Pharmacology from the  American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. The award was established in recognition of the contributions made to drug discovery and development by Dr.

Manesh Patel, MD, assistant professor of medicine (Cardiology), speaks with Duke residents as part of the Stead Attending Rounds at Duke University Hospital. Dr. Patel and this photo were featured in an Associated Press article about a research study investigating renal denervation. Read more in this Palm Beach Post article. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Dean Nancy Andrews, MD, PhD, shared with the faculty of the School of Medicine today the news that Robert E. Whalen, MD, professor emeritus of medicine, passed away on April 25 after an extended illness. He was 81. Dr. Whalen trained as an intern, and completed his residency and fellowship in cardiology at Duke. He was a clinical cardiologist from 1961 to 1992, and will be remembered as one of the doctors who helped shape the Duke clinical practice in the late 1970’s and throughout the 1980’s. He became a professor of medicine in 1974.

Eric Peterson, MD, MPH, professor of medicine (Cardiology), will succeed Robert Harrington, MD, who is leaving Duke to become chairman of the Department of Medicine at Stanford University.

Bimal Shah, MD, assistant professor of medicine (Cardiology), and his colleagues at Duke Cardiology of Sanford, received the Duke Community PDC Patient Satisfaction Award.

Medicine Grand Rounds on Fri., March 9 at 8am in Duke Hospital room 2002 will feature Sunil Rao, MD, associate professor of medicine (Cardiology).