The following message was sent to members of the Department of Medicine from Dr. Kathleen Cooney, MD, MACP, chair of the Department of Medicine, Dr. Myles Wolf, MD, MMSc, chief of the Division of Nephrology, and Dr. Laura Svetkey, MD, vice chair of DOM Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
It is with a heavy heart we share the news of the passing of Kimberley J. Evans, MD, Professor, Division of Nephrology, on August 23, 2023.
An integral DOM community member, Dr. Evans' commitment and service to the Duke community have been felt throughout. She joined the Duke family in 1998 as an internal medicine resident and continued her Duke trajectory as a fellow in Nephrology in 2001. An excellent example of our history of building a pipeline to maintain innovators and thought leaders, she became a faculty member in 2003.
Dr. Evans continued her successful professional journey within Duke when she was promoted to assistant professor of medicine in 2008, then promoted to associate professor in 2016, and more recently, to professor of medicine on August 1, 2023.
Dr. Evans' legacy is based on her sustained excellence and extraordinary contributions to clinical nephrology, leadership in implementing the Duke electronic health record, and creating a nurturing professional environment that fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion.
As the associate vice chair for DOM Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and chair of the department's Minority Recruitment and Retention Committee (MRRC), she developed innovative initiatives to increase recruitment of URiM trainees, fostered career development and community, and helped the Department embed a DEI lens in all we do. Dr. Evans received the 2020 Michelle P. Winn Inclusive Excellence Award, recognizing her contributions to diversity and inclusion within the Duke School of Medicine community.
When it comes to patient care, Dr. Evans has provided expert and selfless care for some of the most complex patients with kidney disease, especially those from vulnerable and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. Additionally, she served our students with the same passion and commitment and was a recipient of our Department of Medicine 2023 Excellence in Education award.
Dr. Evans' impact and her presence have been felt across our community. It is a presence that we will miss. Losing a colleague, friend, mentor, educator, and provider of this magnitude can affect each person differently. We encourage you to take advantage of the resources provided by Duke to support you during this time of grief.
We will share memorial service information when it becomes available. Please keep Dr. Evans' family and colleagues in your thoughts and prayers.