Drake

Seccurro

Where is your hometown?
Hurricane, West Virginia

Where did you attend:
• Undergrad College/University: Marshall University
• Medical School: Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
• Residency: University of Cincinnati Medical Center

List your Medical and Non-Medical Honors and Awards:
• Joan C. Edward’s School of Medicine Peer Choice Award
• Gold Humanism Honors Society (GHHS)
• President of Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine GHHS
• Chief Resident University of Cincinnati Medical Center

Tell us briefly about your background before embarking on your medical training?
While growing up in West Virginia I was involved in my high school cross country and track teams. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease during that time which put my running career and life on hold as I had to pursue care outside of my home state. During my journey with Crohn’s Disease, I was able to see the power of humanism and multiple disciplinary medicine. This led me to a career in medicine with the hopes of improving patient outcomes and access to subspecialty care.

Outline your career plans in gastroenterology (If you know it at this point in your training)?
Honestly, it is hard to pick a career plan at this point. The faculty at Duke are extremely supportive and love to mentor the fellows. I am currently considering a career in Transplant Hepatology while also hoping to remain involved in general GI care. Fortunately, Duke GI does an excellent job of supporting fellows and helping them pursue their individual career goals.

What were you looking for in a fellowship program?
I was looking for a fellowship program that offered robust clinical exposure, strong mentorship, and a supportive environment for professional growth. I also valued a program with a strong commitment to medical education and opportunities to develop as an educator. Ultimately, I wanted a program that would challenge me clinically while providing the mentorship and support to pursue my academic and educational interests which is what I found at Duke.

What advice might you offer residents looking at fellowship programs?
Look for programs that offer strong mentorship and genuinely support your career goals. You will hear this many times throughout the interview process, but the people truly make the program. Pay attention to how fellows describe their relationships with faculty and whether they feel supported, valued, and encouraged to pursue their interests. Finding a program where you feel you will have strong mentors and colleagues can make all the difference in your fellowship experience.

From your experience in fellowship, what have you learned about training at Duke?
During my time at Duke, I’ve learned that Duke Medical Center is a place where collaboration, innovation, and patient centered care come together. I’ve been impressed by the institution’s commitment to providing comprehensive patient care. As fellows we are often involved in multidisciplinary care conferences and have many providers from other departments join us during our didactic session.

How is your life in the Triangle area outside of work?
My wife and I love the triangle area. There are so many great parks, walking/running trails, and local restaurants. We also love leaving after work on a Friday to spend the weekend at the beachs or in the mountains of North/South Carolina.

What is your favorite restaurant in Durham?
There are a ton of good options. It is hard to pick a favorite. My wife and I frequently visit Cucciolo Osteria, JuJu, KoKyu, and Local 22. We also visit Chapel Hill and Raleigh often because they also have great options!

List your hobbies and interests outside of work?
Running, Lifting, Traveling, Premier League Soccer (Go Chelsea!)

List any professional social media sites you would like to share (X, Linkedln, etc):
n/a