The Duke Department of Medicine (DOM) is honoring the remarkable legacy of Dr. Kimberley J. Evans by creating a new residency elective dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the department. Alongside this educational opportunity, a Duke bench will bear her name, featuring a plaque to memorialize her deep impact on colleagues and trainees. Known for her compassion, leadership and dedication to fostering a more inclusive academic community, Dr. Evans leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire future generations of physicians.
Dr. Kimberley J. Evans, a professor of Nephrology, tragically passed away in August 2023. Her association with Duke began in 1998 when she joined as an intern, and over the course of her career, she became an integral figure in both clinical care and DEI leadership. As the associate vice chair for the DOM’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion office and chair of the Minority Recruitment and Retention Committee (MRRC), Dr. Evans pioneered initiatives to recruit underrepresented groups in medicine (URiM) and fostered career development for trainees and faculty alike.
The EDI office’s decision to honor Dr. Evans by creating the Kim Evans SAR Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Elective reflects her commitment to advancing DEI within the department. The elective will provide senior assistant residents (SARs) the opportunity to engage deeply in DEI work while gaining invaluable mentorship and skills to support their leadership development.
The Purpose of the Elective
The Kim Evans SAR Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Elective empowers residents to actively participate in departmental DEI initiatives while developing leadership skills in diversity and inclusion. The elective aims to immerse residents in real-world DEI activities, enabling them to apply lessons learned to future professional opportunities.
Program goals include:
- Providing hands-on learning experiences in DEI.
- Encouraging residents to contribute directly to the department’s ongoing DEI initiatives and programs.
- Offering networking opportunities with DEI leaders and key stakeholders.
- Mentoring residents on applying DEI principles in their careers.
The first cohort of senior assistant residents to take part in this elective for the 2024-2025 academic year includes Rachel Obimah, MD, Yajaira Jimenez, MD, and Alejandro De La Torre, MD.
A Lasting Tribute: The Memorial Bench
In addition to the elective, a bench with a plaque bearing Dr. Evans' name was installed on Duke’s campus. This bench, however, is much more than a physical structure; it is a tribute to Dr. Evans’ extraordinary legacy as a compassionate listener. Throughout her career, Dr. Evans became known for always being available to offer a listening ear to both her colleagues and trainees. Whether it was addressing professional challenges or providing personal support, she embodied the values of empathy, openness, and understanding.
The memorial bench will symbolize this critical aspect of her work: a space for reflection, conversation, and community-building—qualities Dr. Evans championed within the department. It will serve as a tangible reminder of her impact and provide a quiet place for future trainees and faculty to pause, reflect, and connect, just as she did throughout her career.
Co-Chair of the Minority Recruitment and Retention Committee, Dr. David Ortiz- Melo said, "Dr. Kimberley Evans leaves behind an extraordinary legacy at Duke. She was a loving friend, devoted physician, dedicated mentor, wonderful teacher, passionate leader, and fervent advocate for equity. The impact of her work at Duke is felt in many different arenas, including patient care, EDI, and optimization of our EMR. But perhaps the most important impact she had in our lives was her amazing ability to carry on conversations and uplift our spirits while providing words of comfort, support, or encouragement."
He went on, "Kim had an incredible ability to make you feel at ease, to brighten even the darkest of days with her infectious laughter and genuine warmth. Kim possessed an extraordinary ability to guide and inspire others, nurturing their talents and helping them reach their full potential. I strongly believe that this conversation bench represents the perfect way to honor her legacy of mentorship, friendship, kindness, selflessness, and compassion. Countless individuals, including myself, have been forever shaped by her guidance.
This bench will remind us of all the good that Kim selflessly offered us, with one conversation at a time."
Dr. Evans’ DEI Leadership and Vision
Dr. Evans’ work as a DEI leader was characterized by her commitment to intentionality and inclusion. As the chair of the MRRC, she spearheaded innovative efforts to recruit and retain underrepresented URiM while also advocating for the career development of these individuals once they entered the department. Dr. Evans recognized that recruiting a diverse workforce was just one part of the puzzle—ensuring everyone felt a sense of belonging was equally important.
Her leadership helped to institutionalize a DEI lens across the Department of Medicine’s programs and policies, embedding a culture that strives for equity in everything it does. Her dedication to equity extended beyond recruitment; she worked to build an environment where every individual could thrive, contributing to a stronger, more inclusive institution.
Dr. Evans’ vision for a more diverse and inclusive medical community will live on in the residents who take part in this elective, the faculty she mentored, and the countless lives she touched throughout her career. And with every future conversation held at the memorial bench, her legacy of compassion and inclusivity will continue to shape the future of medicine at Duke and beyond.