Division News

The Prevent Cancer Foundation is accepting proposals for research grants and fellowships. The Prevent Cancer Foundation expects to grant 3 awards of $80,000 over two years, including both grants and fellowships. Applications are due August 27. Read more.

The Department of Medicine Grand Rounds on Friday, Aug. 29 at 8 a.m., will feature a special presentation by U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald. Secretary McDonald will present VA: A Higher Calling in the Great Hall of the Trent Semans Center for Health Education. Nominated by President Obama as the eighth Secretary of Veterans Affairs on June 30, Secretary McDonald was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 29, 2014.

Daniella Zipkin, MD, was the lead author of a recent systematic review of evidence-based risk communication in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Zipkin’s article, available here,  analyzed 84 studies to find the most effective strategies for provider-patient communication about health risks. Congratulations, Dr. Zipkin!

Our second staff spotlight shines on clinical research nurse Pamela Gentry, who talks to us about crafting successful telephone interventions to lower blood pressure, as well as changes at Duke over the past 30 years. How long have you been at Duke? How long have you been at the Division? I started at Duke in June of 1983. The exact date I joined the Division of Medicine is a bit trickier.

Duke AHEAD is sponsoring a free session on grant writing for health professions educators on Thursday, August 28, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Trent Semans Center. The event will provide educators with pearls and pointers on successful grant writing.

The AHA is funding research for all disparities in cardiovascular disease to assist the AHA in reaching its 2020 Goals and overall mission of building healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Specifically, the AHA is funding networks comprised of three to four institutions, or centers, working on three projects each that are focused on the basic, clinical and population sciences.

The 36th annual North American conference for the Society of Medical Decision Making (SMDM) will be held from October 18-22 in Miami, Florida. This year’s theme will be “Medical Decision Making Among Diverse Populations: Advancing Practice, Policy, and Science.” Attendees will gain a broad perspective on clinical practice, health policy, and decision science as it pertains to diverse populations.

The Alzheimer’s Association is offering research funding for investigators who are less than 10 years past their doctoral degree. The program will allow newly independent investigators to develop preliminary or pilot data, to test procedures and to develop hypotheses. Up to $100,000 per year is available for up to two years. Letters of intent are due by September 24.

James M. Davis, MD,  grew up picking tobacco crops as a child and watched his friends get addicted as the nicotine soaked through their skin (he wore gloves). Now he's using an "in-the now" approach to help people overcome their addictions. Read the Duke Cancer Institute’s story on his work here.