Juilessa Pavon, MD, chief medical resident at Durham Regional Hospital and ambulatory center, began her medical career in geriatrics with a simple email.
The Florida native, who graduated from Duke University in 2002 with a degree in psychology and a minor in chemistry, was reading a journal article for her human development class when she noticed that one of the authors, Lisa Gwyther, LSW was the director of the Duke Family Support Program.
“I contacted Lisa and told her I was interested in Alzheimer's and older adult development,” said Pavon. “I started volunteering, then did an internship. One thing led to another. It opened up the door to aging and geriatrics for me.”
Pavon said finding a mentor in her undergraduate days was key to her success in medical school and now as chief resident.
After a year at the NIH researching epidemiology and aging, Pavon attended the University of Florida Medical School. She returned to Duke to do an internal medicine residency and a fellowship in geriatrics. She has worked with Cathleen Colon-Emeric, MD, on osteoporosis guidelines for men and Gwendolen Buhr, MD on transitional care issues.
“I am a team player,” said Pavon. “That’s one of the reasons I like to work in geriatrics – you have contact with all the specialties and the sum is greater than the parts in treatment plans.”
Pavon, who says a close relationship with her grandmother also influenced her career choice, sees geriatrics as an especially vibrant area of medicine considering the aging population.
“In the future I want to continue caring for the elderly in an acute setting,” said Pavon. “I find it very easy to connect with elderly patients, and I want patients to have a powerful role and voice in decisions concerning their transition to care.”
As chief resident, Pavon teaches the morning reports at DHR and is the precept two times per week at Duke’s outpatient clinic. She also is involved with administrative duties, peer advising and medical residency interviews. From November through January, she helps host the hundreds of residency applicants that tour Duke.
“We show them how amazing this community is, and what it has to offer,” said Pavon.
In addition to her professional duties, Pavon is a pianist, and helped organize Humanism in Medicine, the annual showcase where Duke School of Medicine faculty and residents perform music, recite poetry or show off other talents not often seen during Grand Rounds.
“It’s important for people to discover other aspects of ourselves that enrich our practice of medicine,” Pavon said.
In April, Pavon will marry Tony Ning, MD, a third-year fellow in rheumatology. The relationship may be the ultimate testament to her belief in teamwork.
“We met at the hospital,” Pavon said. “We were working on a consult together.”