The Kimberley J. Evans Legacy Award acknowledges and celebrates exemplary faculty members that have made substantive efforts to advance diversity among trainees or faculty, advocate for equal career development and opportunities for medicine residents, fellows and/or faculty, promote institutional culture change and community building, and/or foster an environment of inclusion and belonging in the department and beyond.
David Ortiz-Melo, MD, associate professor, Nephrology, is celebrated as someone who mirrors Dr. Evans’ selflessness, compassion, and desire to ensure everyone is valued. He has distinguished himself as an outstanding mentor, sponsor, coach, and advocate for inclusion. His approach to education empowers learners to take an active role in patient care, exemplifies curiosity, and fosters a culture of collaboration and respect within the treatment team. Many choose to train and stay at Duke because of his unwavering commitment to his trainees, ability to create an inclusive and empowering learning environment, and his leadership in fostering a culture of respect and excellence.
About Dr. Kimberley J. Evans
The Duke Department of Medicine established the award in 2024 after Professor of Nephrology Kimberley J. Evans, MD, who passed away in August 2023. Dr. Evans joined Duke in 1998 as an intern, and upon completion of her medicine residency and nephrology fellowship, became faculty in the Division of Nephrology in 2003. Dr. Evans’ academic legacy centers primarily on her extraordinary and compassionate clinical care as wee as her impactful contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion. She was critical in developing innovative initiatives to promote career development and community, and helped the Department embed a DEI lens in all we do. She believed in cultivating an inclusive institution where everybody has a strong sense of purpose and belonging.