Reduced Acute Diabetes Complications Linked to Preventive Drug List Benefits
To improve medication adherence and health outcomes, some employers are offering a ‘preventive drug list’ (PDL) option with reduced out-of-pocket expenses for medications. In Type 2 diabetes, like other chronic diseases, patients often take multiple medications to manage not only their blood glucose levels but also a constellation of other health problems such as hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.
Dr. Suchita Shah Sata Promoted to Associate Professor
Congratulations to Dr. Suchita Shah Sata for her promotion to Associate Professor of Medicine, Career Track. Dr. Sata is an attending physician in the Division of General Internal Medicine and hospitalist at Duke University Hospital. She joined Duke in 2015 as a Medical Instructor in the Department of Medicine and is a graduate of Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Faculty Promotions January 2023
Don’t Overlook Family Health History for Heart Disease Month
Since February is “American Heart Month”, much focus will be on these conditions that affect millions of Americans in the coming weeks. That’s a good thing, as the trends have not changed in the last several decades. According to the CDC’s Health, United States Data Finder in 1980, heart disease was the leading cause of death for adults 45-64 years old and 65 years and older.
Wahid, Recipient of 2024 SHM Excellence in Research Award
Congratulations to Dr. Lana Wahid, Assistant Professor of Medicine, for being selected as the recipient of the NC Triangle Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) Chapter Excellence Award (Excellence in Research Award). SHM promotes networking, education, and collaboration in the hospital medicine community. Dr. Wahid presented her a poster with several other Duke investigators at last fall’s SHM meeting at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center in Research Triangle Park. Dr. Wahid leads the Hospital-Based Clinical Trials & Research Program at Duke, launched in July of 2022.
Increased Out-of-Pocket Expenses and Decreased Non-cancer Care after High-deductible Health Plan Enrollment
It has been well-documented that the type of health insurance can impact patients’ decisions about seeking care, thereby potentially affecting health outcomes. A new study published in JAMA Oncology by Frank Wharam, Duke Professor of Medicine, and colleagues has confirmed that shifts to high-deductible health plans (HDHP) are associated with reduced visits to non-oncologists among cancer patients. In addition, and not surprisingly, their out-of-pocket medical expenses increased substantially.
Sustained Decline in Cardiovascular Events During Pandemic Reported by Duke Researcher based on Analysis of Health Insurance Claims
With the rapid onset of COVID hospitalizations in spring 2020, the number of hospitalizations for other conditions was anticipated to decline due to staffing and space constraints, reallocation, and patient fears, among other factors. And decline it did, as reported by Duke Professor of Medicine Frank Wharam and team in a recent research letter published in JAMA Health Forum.
GIM Staff Spotlight: Avi Alkon
GIM Division Update with Interim Chief Dr. William Yancy
By William Yancy, MD
Interim Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine
The Division of General Internal Medicine at Duke strives to improve adult patient, family, community, and population health through exemplary patient care, education, and research. Perhaps most importantly, we have maintained core values of excellence, integrity, kindness, and commitment to health and health equity for our patients and our communities.
Faculty Promotions May 2023
2023 Resident Research Day Features Califf Research Award Winners
Dr. Wilder Leads Three-Year Study to Improve Health Literacy in Underserved Communities
Q&A Spotlight: Distinguished Professors Christopher Granger and Rana Gupta
Berg, Joshi, and McDonald to Receive 2023 DOM Master Clinician Awards
Gastronauts: Making Science Democratic—and Other Worthwhile Pursuits
Darwin was not out to change the world when he arrived in Galapagos in 1835, says Diego Bohórquez, PhD, who wasn’t either when he brought a small group of Duke scientists together back in 2014 to talk gut-brain science.
Now, nearly a decade later, Bohórquez thinks he just might.
Crawford, Diehl, Weinberg Receive Department of Medicine 2023 Career Achievement Awards
The Department of Medicine (DOM) is pleased to announce the 2023 recipients of the annual Department of Medicine Career Achievement Award: Jeffrey Crawford, MD, Louis Diehl, MD, and
Q&A Spotlight: Distinguished Professors Steve Patierno and Svati Shah
Gallagher named Duke University Hospital CMO
David Gallagher, MD, SFHM, has been named Chief Medical Officer for Duke University Hospital, effective May 1, 2023.
In this role, Dr. Gallagher will work in conjunction with the DUH Senior Leadership Team to oversee all hospital operations, lead the development of standard work, ensure the delivery of effective care, and manage medical staff matters and concerns.