The Duke University Department of Medicine is strengthening recognition and support for frontline clinicians through its Clinical Excellence Society (CES), an initiative designed to elevate the clinical mission alongside research and education in academic medicine.
Created under the leadership of Department Chair Kathleen Cooney, MD, the society builds on a standing Clinical Excellence Award to recognize outstanding physicians across the department’s many divisions while also supporting clinicians throughout their careers. The goal is to ensure that excellence in patient care is valued as highly as achievements in research and teaching.
Elevating the Clinical Mission
Geriatrician and CES President Dr. Heidi White said the concept grew out of Dr. Cooney’s experience with a similar program at the University of Michigan.
“She wanted something more than simply an award,” White said. “It was about elevating the clinical pillar of what we do and placing it on equal footing with education and research.”
To launch the society, division chiefs nominated exceptional clinicians, expanding participation beyond a small group of award recipients to a broader cohort representing diverse specialties. White and hospitalist Dr. Noel Ivey, CES secretary, were among the first inductees. The society has since grown to include multiple cohorts.
From the outset, members envisioned CES as more than a recognition program. “We wanted it to be a place of service to the department,” Dr. White said, pointing to efforts such as mentoring junior faculty and supporting long-term clinical career paths.
Defining the ‘Doctor’s Doctor’
Members often describe clinical excellence in deeply personal terms. “It’s the ‘doctor’s doctor,’” Ivey said. “The person you’d trust with your own care or that of your family.”
But excellence today extends beyond bedside skill. Physicians must also navigate — and improve — the complex systems through which care is delivered.
“Excellent clinicians are attuned not only to their patients but also to the systems they work in,” Dr. White said, noting the importance of quality improvement, innovation, and mentorship.
Supporting Frontline Clinicians
The society reflects broader shifts in academic medicine. Hospitalist Dr. Christopher Jones, who is chairing the CES grand round selection and planning committee, noted that institutions have historically emphasized research over clinical care.
“Recognizing clinicians who excel at care delivery helps fill a longstanding gap,” he said.
Many of these physicians are “90–10 clinicians,” spending the majority of their time in patient care. “These are the people seeing patients day after day,” Dr. Jones said. “We need structures that support them.”
Expanding Mentorship Across Divisions
One such effort is a new cross-divisional mentorship program led by Dr. Ted Hendershot. Unlike traditional models, it pairs clinicians across specialties to address shared challenges such as leadership development, navigating institutional systems, and securing resources.
“Some challenges aren’t specialty-specific,” Dr. Jones added. “This allows us to share strategies across the department.”
Advancing the Conversation
CES will also host an April 17 Grand Rounds, followed by a panel discussion, focused on how institutions can better support clinicians and the clinical mission.
The session will feature keynote speaker Dr. Jed Gonzalo, a national leader in health systems science, followed by the panel discussion that includes Kathleen Cooney, MD and Tom Owens, MD, associate professor of Medicine and Pediatrics on strengthening support for frontline providers.
Keeping Patients at the Center
Ultimately, CES leaders say the initiative reflects both the department’s legacy of excellent clinical care and the evolving realities of modern medicine.
“The pace is faster, patients are more complex, and the system is more complicated,” Dr. White said. “We’re defining what clinical excellence looks like today — and what it must become.”
By recognizing outstanding clinicians, fostering mentorship, and advancing dialogue, the CES aims to keep patient-centered care at the heart of academic medicine.